Cultivating Critical Love to Improve Black Maternal Health Outcomes

S. Michelle Ogunwole, Francheska D. Starks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Racism is responsible for the maldistribution of power in society and manifests as persistent disparities in maternal health among Black women in the United States. Testimonial injustice is an expression of prejudice that uses identity to undermine individuals’ credibility as authoritative “knowers” of their own bodies, selves, and experiences. Among Black women, experiences of testimonial injustice in health care encounters are common and likely contribute to disparities in Black maternal health. To promote more equitable power distribution and prioritize testimonial justice in clinical encounters, this article proposes a conceptual framework for fostering critical-racial consciousness among health professions students and trainees. The goal is for critical-racial consciousness development and refinement to stimulate antiracist actions in medical decision making and, ultimately, lead to a more equitable health care system in which Black women can thrive.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)72-83
Number of pages12
JournalAMA Journal of Ethics
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Health Policy
  • Issues, ethics and legal aspects

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