Tackle NJ Black Infant Death Gap By Training Docs, Lawmakers Say – Belleville, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It’s bad enough that pregnant Black women in New Jersey face an infant mortality rate that’s more than double the national average. But waging a battle against racial bias with your own doctor is a fight that no mother should have to endure, a state lawmaker from Essex County says.

On Monday, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee unanimously released S-703, a bill that would require New Jersey hospitals to roll out bias training for any worker who provides perinatal care.

The training would include information about communicating more effectively across racial, ethnic, religious and gender identities, and teach corrective measures to decrease implicit bias at the interpersonal and institutional level. In addition to the training, the health care professionals would be required to complete a refresher course every two years.

The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Sandra Cunningham of the 31st District and M. Teresa Ruiz of the 29th District, who represents Belleville and Newark.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable that the maternal mortality rate for Black women in New Jersey is more than double the national rate,” Ruiz said. “Hopefully, by unpacking the implicit biases healthcare workers may hold, we can begin to improve outcomes across racial demographics and provide more equitable care to our mothers around the state.”

“This is just a start,” Ruiz added.

“Far too often we hear stories of Black women’s complaints about pain or discomfort that were ignored or brushed aside, only to result in serious complications or death,” Cunningham said. “Doctors may not be intentionally treating Black women differently, but the maternal mortality data makes it clear that there are systemic issues resulting in vast disparities in outcomes.”

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‘DAUNTING ODDS’ FOR NJ’S YOUNGEST CHILDREN

How bad is the birth gap in New Jersey? According to a recent study from Newark-based Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), babies born to Black mothers are three times more likely to die before their first birthday.

Read the full report here.

“New Jersey ranks 47th in maternal deaths,” the nonprofit stated. “On average, 46.4 New Jersey women die for every 100,000 live births, compared to 29.6 nationally. Among Black women, the disparity is even greater, with 132 deaths for every 100,000 live births compared to white maternal rates (35 deaths for every 100,000 live births).”

About 35 percent of expectant Black mothers in New Jersey and 30 percent of expectant Hispanic mothers receive late or no prenatal care, the nonprofit said.

ACNJ researchers wrote:

“More than 100,000 babies are born every year in New Jersey. All babies possess unlimited potential, yet many of New Jersey’s youngest children face daunting odds that hurt their ability to reach it fully. Too often, opportunities are affected by race, income or geography. For some, disparities begin before they are even born, due to uneven maternal health and prenatal care. At the very time of life when a healthy start, a strong family and access to high quality care and education are most critical to a baby’s foundation, these gaps can have a life-long impact on a child’s growth and development.”

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