Maternal Health Disparities
Course Overview
There is no question that maternal health disparities are a significant problem in the United States. Inequalities have been noted associated with many factors, including education level, literacy, and socioeconomic status. However, the greatest disparities have been noted among racial/ethnic minority women and have been linked to explicit and implicit biases in healthcare providers and systems. It is of the utmost importance that those working in health care and caring for patients in the peripartum and postpartum period are committed on lowering the morbidity and mortality rates of all mothers of color. Promoting equity and cultural competence, effectively addressing modifiable risk factors, improving communication and monitoring, and engaging in regular training are needed to improve these maternal health disparities.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Outline the epidemiology of maternal morbidity and mortality.
- Discuss how explicit and implicit bias may contribute to pregnancy-related deaths and maternal and infant health outcomes.
- Identify cultural identity across racial, ethnic, and other marginalized groups, including historical and contemporary exclusion and oppression.
- Identify environmental, personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural barriers to inclusion.
- Describe effective approaches to communicate more effectively across racial, ethnic, religious, and gender identities.
- Review information about racial and reproductive justice.
- Identify measures to decrease explicit and implicit bias at the interpersonal and institutional levels.
About the Author/Presenter
Mary Franks, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and NetCE Nurse Planner. She works as a Nurse Division Planner for NetCE and a per diem nurse practitioner in urgent care in Central Illinois. Mary graduated with her Associate’s degree in nursing from Carl Sandburg College, her BSN from OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in 2013, and her MSN with a focus on nursing education from Chamberlain University in 2017. She received a second master's degree in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Chamberlain University in 2019. She is an adjunct faculty member for a local university in Central Illinois in the MSN FNP program. Her previous nursing experience includes emergency/trauma nursing, critical care nursing, surgery, pediatrics, and urgent care. As a nurse practitioner, she has practiced as a primary care provider for long-term care facilities and school-based health services. She enjoys caring for minor illnesses and injuries, prevention of disease processes, health, and wellness. In her spare time, she stays busy with her two children and husband, coaching baseball, staying active with her own personal fitness journey, and cooking. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nursing, for which she is a member of the bylaws committee.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Counselor, Nursing, Physician, Psychology, Social Work
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
