Promoting Minority Health

National Minority Health Month (NMHM)—celebrated annually in April—centers around building awareness of racial and ethnic health disparities and promotes health education and early detection of health problems among minority groups. This month, we also observe Black Maternal Health Week from April 11 through April 17. This national event raises awareness of the pregnancy-related health challenges facing Black women in the United States.

Racism in the United States is embedded within our society and creates systemic barriers to optimal health and wellness for minority populations.¹ Decades of research show that systemic racism has resulted in significant and negative health outcomes among racial and ethnic minority groups (e.g., American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations) in the United States.² For example, these populations experience higher morbidity and mortality rates across a range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease, compared to White Americans.³ Additionally, the average lifespan is 3 years shorter among Black/African Americans and more than 5 years shorter among American Indians/Native Americans, when compared to White Americans.^4,5

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)—the institutional and societal policies, norms, and systems within our country—deeply impact our health outcomes. SDOH have been shown to have a more substantial impact on health than genetics or access to healthcare, and they drive health inequities among racial and ethnic communities, compounding their risk for poor health.⁶ Acknowledging and addressing the unique impact of SDOH on various communities is the first step to ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to attain optimal health.

Black Maternal Health Week is April 11–17, 2024

During Black Maternal Health Week, learn about maternal health and the impact of racial and ethnic disparities on the health and pregnancy-related outcomes of Black pregnant and parenting people.

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The first step in affecting change is understanding the problem and the research behind it. In 2021, more than 1,200 women died from maternal-related causes, an increase from previous years (861 in 2020; 754 in 2019). This upward trend is particularly devastating given that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths exist; for example, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women, regardless of education or income. Factors that contribute to these disparities include lack of access to quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and stigma.⁷  

Mark your calendar! Here are a few ways you can get involved in NMHM and Black Maternal Health Week this year.

• National Institutes of Health Minority Health Walk, Run, Roll 5K – Thursday, April 11, at 11:30 a.m. ET. Register or learn more.  
• EnRICH Webinar: Unlocking the Future of Maternal Health Begins with Research – Thursday, April 11, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Register here.
  • This webinar, hosted by the Health Resources and Services Administration, will describe the current climate of the maternal mortality crisis and related racial disparities in the United States. It will also explore the role of historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions in addressing these health disparities.
• Fireside Chat with the Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, MD – Monday, April 22, at 1:00 pm. ET. Learn more.
  • Join Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, President Emeritus of the Morehouse School of Medicine and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as he shares his personal experience in integrating inclusive diversity into the U.S. health system and his advances in health policy, medicine, and education.
• Strategies to Increase Clinical Trial Participation for Diverse Communities: A Panel Discussion With the FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity Racial and Ethnic Minority Acceleration Consortium for Health Equity (REACH) – Wednesday, April 17, at 11:00 a.m. ET. Register here.
  • This panel discussion will provide presentations from organizations and researchers on their ongoing work with REACH to improve clinical trial participation among racial and ethnic minorities as well as rural and urban communities.

Spread the word: Simply sharing information and raising awareness about the challenges facing racial and ethnic minorities can make a difference. Visit the Black Maternal Health Week toolkit and the National Minority Health Month toolkit for resources, information, and messaging you can use throughout April to increase knowledge on this important topic.

Change is possible. Last month, the White House released an executive order and 20+ new initiatives coordinated among federal agencies to increase research and novel practices to improve women’s health. This order follows the White House’s 2022 Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. This plan outlined specific actions focused on mitigating challenges to maternal health care and improving maternal health outcomes, especially for women who are affected by these negative health outcomes at higher rates.

To commemorate this important health observance, visit the National Minority Quality Forum’s National Minority Health Month webpage to learn more about the history behind this important observance and the latest news on minority health data and initiatives.