SAN DIEGO, CA – On September 4th, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) will host an event in collaboration with California State Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber, focusing on the physical and mental health needs of Black women as they navigate the postpartum period. The event will emphasize the importance of managing chronic conditions and supporting mental health during the postpartum period, highlighting the unique risks faced by Black mothers.
 
This event will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss the causes and consequences of racial disparities in postpartum health, as well as strategies for improving the health outcomes of postpartum Black women.
 
Chronic diseases such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions can have long-lasting effects if not properly managed after childbirth. For Black mothers, these challenges are further compounded by factors such as limited access to quality healthcare, socioeconomic inequities, and chronic stress, making it imperative to focus on this population.^[1]
 
Research shows that Black mothers are at a higher risk for complications related to chronic diseases during the postpartum period and are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women. In 2021, about 70 Black women died for every 100,000 babies that were born, which is 2.6 times higher than the rate for White women.^[2] This event will serve as a platform to raise awareness, share best practices, and advance policy solutions aimed at reducing these disparities and promoting health equity.
 
“As a Black woman, a mother, a legislator, and a board-certified OB/GYN, addressing implicit bias and Black maternal mortality is both personally and professionally important to me,” said Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber. “We must pursue public policy more supportive to black mothers and bolster the health resources available in historically underserved communities to erase persistent inequities.”
 
“The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease is committed to raising awareness about the challenges faced by postpartum Black women and advocating for solutions that get to the root of these health disparities,” said PFCD Chair Ken Thorpe. “We are grateful to once again work with Dr. Weber and local leaders to advance policy solutions that better address these underlying factors that give rise to racial disparities.”
 
To learn more about chronic disease and maternal health disparities, please visit PFCD’s blog HERE. Event RSVP HERE. 
 
###
 
The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an international coalition of patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, and health policy experts, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs: chronic disease.
 
Media Contact:
Jennifer Burke
301.801.9847
Jennifer.Burke@fightchronicdisease.org