The Mystery of Black-White Differences in Infant Mortality (1314 hits)
Neonatologists James Collins and Richard David specialize in the care of infants born too soon or too small. Their research on differences in birth outcomes between African American and white American women points to a provocative idea: the cumulative stress of racism is taking a toll on African American families even before they are born.
This clip is excerpted from "When the Bough Breaks," Episode 2 of "UNNATURAL CAUSES: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" This ground-breaking documentary series looks at how the social, economic and physical environments in which we are born, live, and work profoundly affect our longevity and health. The series broadcast nationally on PBS in spring 2008, and can be bought on DVD from California Newsreel, www.newsreel.org
You would think that giving birth is the most natural thing. I think that you sometimes need to beware. When my first son was delivered there was a change of doctors at the last moment. After the baby was born, they did what they normally do while cleaning the infants, but they left my infant under the bright lights and didn't notice until he started violently crying. Later when he finally opened his eyes I could see all around his pupils was red. There were so many other things that didn't go right during my stay at the hospital that I knew that the stitches they put inside of me were not normal. I myself reached inside to undo each stitch and pulled them out, they were so sharp I had to be careful not to stick my fingers. So how much faith do you think that I have in the system now?
Sunday, July 18th 2010 at 2:57AM
Helen Lofton
@ Sister Helen, As a healthcare worker I have (both) seen with my own eyes and have experienced the racism in the healthcare system that we have to endure as opposed to my White sisters and brothers. When I was receiving obsetric care while I was pregnant with my son, I was treated in less than desirable manner by a nurse (who had no idea that I was a nurse,too).
When I told my husband that I wanted to change doctors because of the incident~~~ he spoke to my doctor who personally apologized to me and reprimanded her nurse~~~ who gave me the best care after that. I've had to endure negative comments from my White colleagues regarding my own people when they come into the hospital, but now I speak up to correct the misconceptions and stereotypes now that I've been in the field for some time now.
Like I recently was taking care of a African man who had several problems and so when I was endorsing report to my White colleague, she made the statement that the patient and his wife were a bit slow. I immediately interjected with a question what do you mean they are slow? I stated that there's nothing wrong with either the patient or his wife's mental capabilities.
I spend time with minorities to make sure they are getting the education and information that is needed, because I know first hand that less time is spent giving vital information to us.
Sunday, July 18th 2010 at 3:38PM
Jen Fad
you said Juicy with a silver bullet..... Minorities receive limited care... that's why I chose the health care arena... to educate...
Sunday, July 18th 2010 at 3:54PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
That's just part of the story. White people tend to get offended when you don't do as they tell you, The reason for the change of doctors was because I refused to allow him to put a needle into the skull of the infant before delivery. The doctor brought papers in to me to sign saying that I had refused to do as he requested. I read the papers before signing and noticed it said that I refused service and was leaving the hospital on my own free will(lol). I told him that I wouldn't sign the papers because I wasn't gonna leave before my baby was born.
Sunday, July 18th 2010 at 4:41PM
Helen Lofton
I hear ya Helen.... I have noticed that Dr.'s Period feel that they are the most knowledgeable... and we don't know.... But what I do know is that we know our bodies and two we know how much we will endure.... Why would they want to stick a needlle in his head? For a Pic (IV) line? They wanted to do the same for my son when he was born.... I told them NO!! He had so many connections, that one surgeon came in and told me if I would agree... they would run one central line into his heart... that would eliminate the lines from both arms, hands and feet... and reduce the compromisee of further infection... He did this!! But that's another story...
Sunday, July 18th 2010 at 6:27PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
For me, it's about education. I'm not saying that our people don't have education, but what I'm finding is that the terms need to be broken down and explained to match the level of understanding of many minorities. For example, if I'm trying to ask a Black person if they have wheezes (contriction of the airway that cause shortness of breath) I will ask do you have whistling noise sometimes and feel winded. Instead of asking if a Black person or African person feels depressed, I ask if you feel down.
Those are the differences and many of my colleagues although we talk about being cultural aware of people's culture and diversity, it doesn't get played out in real life. Like Sister Helen and Sister Cynthi a have stated~~~ health care workers want to mandate people to do as they are told.
Monday, July 19th 2010 at 2:58PM
Jen Fad
I grew up as the communicator for my grandparents and now my mother's health. I will go to the point of asking the doctor to take baby steps explain this to my mother so that she will understand what is going on. I understand, because that's a part of my studies....
Yes, Jen.... Education... communicating with and not talking at.... And making certain the patient, the family members and even other health care givers are understanding what is going on.
I always say that the best doctor or care giver is the person that sits down communicate and listen to their patients concerns.... I don't care if he's on the top of the list of the best doctors.... If he doesn't listen to his patients or show empathy or concern... to me he's not there care giver for me
Monday, July 19th 2010 at 6:39PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
Absolutely hear and feel you on that notition~~~good doctors listen to their patients and are empathetic to their concerns. There's this elderly physician at work and he's absolutely the best doctor ever! He starts at 8am and finishes most days after 6pm sometimes even later.
I tell patients that you'll really have to lean in good to hear him, because he speaks with a whisper, but he's the best! This doctor will sit down, listen, and explain to patients and families.
I won him over early when he observed that I get all my patients up out of bed and in their recliner chair. Ha!
Monday, July 19th 2010 at 10:40PM
Jen Fad
i hear ya my sista... we think on the same lines with healthcare
Monday, July 19th 2010 at 10:55PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
jEN, i BELIEVE a study like tis is over due...It will hopefully go to give more credibality to the scientific study that has been goin gon for years...it seems that stress in teh mother causes children to end u with is called by them...being bron in the wrong body...
this study was frist started back from WWII that had a rise of these births and not after and well ........ any and all studys to help prove taht stress in the mother cause differences in the child is a good thing in helping answer some of our so called SOCIAL PROBLEMS...(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
No one asked me but, My oldest daughter weigh in at 3lb 9 oz. the other at 3lb 2oz and dispite them giving me a shot each week of DES they do not have cervix cancer...DES was created to use in cows and now has been banned from giving to at risk females when pregnant...I have told ti sstory before on this site about how some women like me have what is called a defective Cervix. I am sure today they have a new medication to help extra early natural abortions, because other than this you have to ramain in bed and off your feet the wole time. (smile)
A DEFECTIVE CERVIX YOUR CERVIX IS FULL TO THE POINT UNTIL AS THE BABY GROWS IT HAS NO ROOM TO GROW...THE DOCTOR WILL HAVE TO TRY U YOUR CERVIX FOR AS LONG AS THE BABY DOES NOT DECIDE TO SAY WORLD HERE I COME READY OR NOT.LOL SO AS SOON AS TH EFIRST CONTRACTIONS BEGIN YOU MUST GET INTO SERGRY TO GET THAT CLAMP REMOVED...BUT AS MY OLDEST IS NOW 45 (I THINK) I KNOW MANY NEW IMPROVED THING HAVE HAPPENED...I SEE INFANTS AS SAMLL AS 1 OZ SURVIVING TODAY. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
