Counseling advocacy: seeking justice for black birth equity

Abstract

Black women and infants are up to 3.5 times more likely to die due to birth-related complications than their White and Hispanic counterparts. Research points to complex racial and social inequities, including inadequate perinatal mental health care, as primary contributors to the gap in birth outcomes. During pregnancy, untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with adverse birth outcomes and, therefore, contribute to increased mortality and morbidity risks for Black mothers and their infants. Cultural competency is empirically supported as a framework for reducing racial health disparities. Professional counselors are well-positioned to play a vital role in addressing perinatal mental health disparities impacting Black women. This article provides a contextual overview of the intersecting perinatal medical and mental health disparities affecting Black women and discusses implications for counselor advocacy.