Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37772754›Full record

ArticleWomen's health (London, England)

Obstetric racism and perceived quality of maternity care in Canada: Voices of Black women.

Priscilla N Boakye, Nadia Prendergast, Bahareh Bandari, Eugenia Anane Brown, Awura-Ama Odutayo, Sharon Salami

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Women's health (London, England). The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed
5.6field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

14 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Racial inequities in severe maternal morbidity among Black and White people in Canada: a population-based cohort study, 2012 to 2023.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Stories From Black Women in Iowa About Reproductive Health Care Experiences, Self-Advocacy, and Recommendations for Change.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Article
  5. Disparities in cost-related prescription nonadherence between Black and White adults in Canada.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Stress-induced developmental plasticity and spontaneous preterm birth: A justice-oriented eco-evo-devo review.European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X · 2025
    Review
  9. Anti-Black Medical Gaslighting in Healthcare: Experiences of Black Women in Canada.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieres · 2025
    Article
  10. Article
  11. Treatment Effects of the Integrated Perinatal Diabetes Education and Management Program.Diabetes spectrum : a publication of the American Diabetes Association · 2025
    Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Priscilla N BoakyeToronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-8843-6666
Nadia PrendergastToronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bahareh BandariToronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Eugenia Anane BrownUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Awura-Ama OdutayoToronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Sharon SalamiToronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Toronto Metropolitan University · CAUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObstetric racism in healthcare encounters impact on access to quality maternal healthcare for Black childbearing women yet remains underexplored in Canada. Understanding the experiences of Black Canadian women is critical to inform policy and create targeted interventions to address obstetric racism and advanced maternal health equity.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the experiences of obstetric racism and its influence on perceived quality of maternity care among Black women in Toronto, Canada.

designQualitative research was conducted using a critical qualitative inquiry approach.

methodsWe conducted a semi-structured interviews with 24 Black women who were pregnant and/or have given birth in the last 3 years. The interviews explored their experiences seeking care during pregnancy/childbirth and perceived quality of care.

resultsTwo themes were generated through the process of thematic analysis: (1) Manifestations and Impacts of Obstetric Racism and (2) Strategies for Addressing Obstetric Racism. Narratives of being dismissed, objectified, dehumanized, trauma and paternalism were reflected in the accounts of the participants. These experiences undermined the quality of care, hindered therapeutic relationships and contributed to mistrust.

conclusionBlack women understood the nature and impact of obstetric racism as it relates to the quality of maternal health care, their safety, and well-being. Participants recommended the need for anti-Black racism training specific to caring of Black childbearing women and increasing Black healthcare provider representation in perinatal settings as strategies to address obstetric racism. Investment in Black maternal health research is urgently needed to generate meaningful evidence to inform policy and interventions to advanced maternal health equity.

Indexed as

Maternal Health ServicesRacismCanadaDelivery, ObstetricDelivery of Health CareFemaleHumansPregnancyBlack womenCanadaMaternal healthObstetric racismQuality of care

Identifiers

PMID37772754
PMCPMC10542226
OpenAlexW4387157153

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.