Aunque la Semana de Salud Materna Negra está llegando a su fin, las disparidades de salud de las mujeres negras embarazadas aún siguen siendo un problema.

Del 11 al 17 de abril de este año, la elevada tasa de mortalidad de las madres está en la mira. Las mujeres negras tienen tres veces más probabilidades de morir por causas relacionadas con el embarazo que las mujeres blancas.

La doctora Patricia Egwuatu, médica familiar de Kaiser Permanente en Seattle, afirma que el racismo es la raíz de estas disparidades, porque crean barreras al acceso a la atención médica. Ella dice que la falta de acceso puede provocar problemas durante el embarazo que se pueden prevenir.

"Pero pueden existir antes del embarazo y empeorar durante este si no se tratan como parte de la atención a la maternidad," dice Egwuatu. "Por eso hay más embarazadas con enfermedades crónicas como hipertensión, diabetes y enfermedades cardiacas que se agravan durante el embarazo."

La Casa Blanca ha a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/04/10/a-proclamation-on-black-maternal-health-week-2024/" target="_blank">publicado una proclamación reconociendo la Semana de la Salud Materna Negra. La administración de Biden comenzó a reconocer la semana en 2021.

Egwuatu afirma que existen algunos signos de alarma que toda mujer embarazada debe conocer y consultar con su médico si aparecen.

"Puede que tengas cambios en la visión que no sean normales. Visión borrosa, o un dolor de cabeza insoportable," informa Egwuatu. También podrías desarrollar una nueva hinchazón en las extremidades inferiores que te dificulte moverte o incluso una nueva dificultad para respirar."

Egwuatu dice que los médicos también deben reconocer el papel del racismo en la medicina. Dice que la formación médica continua es importante para aprender a enfrentar estos prejuicios. Por ello, Egwuatu afirma que es importante que los médicos comprendan cómo pueden proporcionar recursos a las personas.

"Hacer preguntas sobre las barreras personales," sugiere Egwuatu. Como, ¿El paciente tiene problemas para ir a trabajar, para el cuidado de los niños, o el transporte? ¿Cuál es su nivel de estudios, sus antecedentes culturales y su idioma? ¿Tiene teléfono celular para que podamos contactarlos?"

The Missouri Foundation for Health is partnering with The Marshall Project on the launch of a St. Louis nonprofit newsroom highlighting the legal system's effect on health, especially in marginalized communities.

The Marshall Project focuses on investigative, data-driven journalism to explain the justice system, especially to those affected by it. With the foundation's support, its St. Louis newsroom will cover topics like the death penalty, juvenile justice, health care in prison conditions and reentry challenges.

Molly Crisp, senior communications strategist at the foundation, shared the goals of the new partnership.

"We recognize that the criminal justice system disproportionately harms certain populations and that exacerbates health inequities," Crisp explained. "We're hoping through this partnership that we're bringing to light some of the issues that are rampant in the legal system and that we can address those issues."

Statistics show low-income marginalized communities face higher pollution, increasing asthma risk, along with other health problems, and incarcerated individuals often endure long waits for medical care and face barriers to mental health treatment due to staff shortages and limited resources.

Katie Moore, a reporter for the Marshall Project, said its goal is to investigate such issues both locally and statewide.

"We have been talking with different groups, individuals who are connected to the criminal justice system in some way," Moore noted. "To see what their concerns are, what they see as being missing in the media landscape in St. Louis in terms of coverage of some of these more in-depth investigative issues."

With an increasing number of older people who are incarcerated, Missouri prisons face growing health care demands, including the need for geriatric care and hospice services.

Ohioans are seeing changes in their water infrastructure as cities work to replace lead service lines, a requirement under federal regulations.

But concerns have risen over the materials being used for replacements.

Teresa McGrath, chief research officer with the group Habitable, said while lead exposure poses significant health risks, she cautions against replacing these pipes with polyvinyl chloride due to its environmental and health implications.

"It's important to get those lead pipes out. Let's prioritize that," said McGrath. "But let's not make a regrettable substitution while we do that."

PVC production involves hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. However, PVC remains a popular choice because of its lower cost and ease of installation.

Environmental health advocate Yvette Jordan - the chair emeritus of the Newark Education Workers Caucus, and a steering committee member at Lead Free NJ - underscores the importance for Ohioans to be well informed about their environments.

"What is in their home?" said Jordan. "If they have a service line, is it plastic? Copper? What exactly is it and how does that affect their health, their community, and most importantly their families and children who are most affected by this?"

McGrath highlighted specific concerns about PVC and alternative materials that could be safer.

"The best available water pipe that we have evaluated for use inside a home is copper pipes," said McGrath, "and we will be the first ones to tell you that copper pipes are not perfect, but it is the best available."




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March is National Nutrition Month and rising grocery costs, and food recalls have consumers revisiting the idea of growing their own healthier and more affordable food. Research from gardening site, Gardenp.com shows the average garden produces $600 worth of produce. Indiana farmer's markets attract large numbers of Hoosiers who want fresh, farm-grown fruits, vegetables, and other staples at reasonable prices.

Philip Hartman, president of InstaFarm, which creates countertop food gardens, said foods grown in the healthiest chemical-free soil will produce optimum crops.

"So your food that you buy at the grocery store, your produce, has typically lost up to around 50% of its nutritional value by the time it gets to the store. Also, you don't know how it was grown. So the quality of your produce is linked to the quality of your soil," he said.

Lower costs, convenience, and fewer pesticides make garden-to-table food even more appealing. Hartman advises beginner gardeners to use healthy, nutrient-rich soil because it improves the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables. Gardens use a large amount of soil nutrients and when soil is depleted of these necessary nutrients, the crops are affected too.

Hartman works with students from kindergarten through high school and is passionate about helping children understand where their food comes from. He notes children don't get to see a farm or where their food is grown until they are well into their late teens.

"It's amazing, you know, children that don't usually like vegetables, when they engage in the growing process, all of a sudden, they're inspired to eat this and it's a great way to train them about what's good for them and how to recognize healthy foods," he added.

Gardenpals.com says millennials make up 29% of gardener demographics. Indiana is home to over 60,000 farms covering over 19 million acres. The state ranks in the top five for growing corn, soybeans, blueberries, tomatoes and melons, according to the Indiana Department of Agriculture.