CDC Finds That 20% of Women Experience Mistreatment During Maternity Care

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that approximately 20% of women have experienced mistreatment and discrimination during pregnancy and childbirth. The highest rates of mistreatment were reported by Black, Hispanic, and multiracial women.

The most common forms of mistreatment reported by women include verbal abuse, unanswered requests for help, violation of physical privacy, and threats of withholding treatment.

The report shows that around 30% of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial women have experienced mistreatment, while 40% of Black and 39% of multiracial women have faced discrimination.

Nearly one-third of respondents expressed feeling discriminated against due to factors such as age, weight, or income.

“As a healthcare community, we must improve our provision of unbiased and respectful maternity care to all mothers,” said Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer. “We have heard too many heartbreaking stories of women, especially Black women, who knew something was wrong with their pregnancy, voiced their concerns, but were not heard and subsequently lost their lives.”

These findings come at a time when maternal deaths have been increasing in the United States, with documented racial disparities. Among Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native individuals, pregnancy-related deaths are the highest. Alarmingly, nearly 80% of these deaths are preventable.

The CDC report analyzed data from approximately 2,400 respondents surveyed between April 24-30, 2023, who were mothers with children under 18 years old. Although the survey was not nationally representative, most respondents expressed overall satisfaction with their maternity care, though satisfaction was lower among those who experienced mistreatment.

It is important to note that most women were reporting on experiences during pregnancies or deliveries that occurred more than five years ago, so their responses may not reflect more recent experiences.

The survey also revealed that insurance status played a role, with women having public or no insurance reporting more mistreatment during delivery compared to those with private insurance.

Additionally, pregnant women were reluctant to discuss their concerns. Almost half of the women admitted to holding back from asking questions or discussing worries with their healthcare provider during maternity care.

Many women refrained from speaking out because they didn’t want to cause a fuss, felt embarrassed, believed their experiences were normal, or feared being labeled as “difficult” by their provider.

“We know that discrimination during prenatal care can lead to reduced healthcare seeking,” said Wanda Barfield, director of the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health. “This study shows that women are hesitant to report their concerns, which can increase the risk of pregnancy-related complications for both the mother and the baby.”

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