Addressing Maternal Health Disparities: The Role of HBCU Midwifery Programs
Systematic racism plays a central role in health disparities. Increasing diversity in midwifery is instrumental in reducing bias in maternal healthcare because midwifery is relationship-based care. The midwifery model of care focuses on intentional and intimate relationships between providers and patients to achieve the best possible health outcomes. Black midwives make up only 7% of the total Certified Nurse-Midwives/Certified Midwives in the US. Increasing the number of Black midwives can help to dismantle the vices that lead to high maternal death rates and negative health outcomes in the Black community. HBCUs would enable Black student midwives to learn, grow, and develop in an educational culture that supports, understands, and positively positions future leaders in midwifery and maternal health for sustainable success.
The Critical Need for Diversity in Midwifery
Midwifery is more than just a profession; it's a calling rooted in providing patient-centered, equitable health care. Midwives are essential healthcare providers for women and newborns to 28 days and are needed to help address disparities in maternal-infant mortality and women’s health outcomes. The midwifery model of care emphasizes intentional and intimate relationships between providers and patients to achieve the best possible health outcomes. Nurse-midwives promote normal physiological birth and non-intervention in normal processes but use appropriate interventions and technology when needed.
However, the field of midwifery currently lacks adequate representation, particularly of Black midwives, who constitute only 7% of the total Certified Nurse-Midwives/Certified Midwives in the US. This disparity has significant implications for maternal health outcomes within the Black community.
HBCUs: A Strategic Solution
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) represent a unique opportunity to address the lack of diversity in midwifery and improve maternal health outcomes for Black women. HBCUs would enable Black student midwives to learn, grow, and develop in an educational culture that supports, understands, and positively positions future leaders in midwifery and maternal health for sustainable success. By establishing midwifery education programs at HBCUs, we can cultivate a pipeline of qualified Black midwives who are equipped to provide culturally competent care and advocate for the needs of their communities.
Understanding Midwifery Pathways
Developing a midwifery education program at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) requires an in-depth breakdown of different midwifery pathways and important insights into starting and maintaining a midwifery education program.
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The Impact of Black Midwives
Increasing the number of Black midwives can help to dismantle the vices that lead to high maternal death rates and negative health outcomes in the Black community. Black midwives bring a wealth of cultural understanding, empathy, and trust to the birthing experience, which can lead to improved outcomes for Black mothers and babies. They are more likely to be aware of the specific challenges and systemic barriers that Black women face in accessing quality healthcare, and they can advocate for policies and practices that promote equity and justice.
Examples of Institutions and Programs
Frontier Nursing University: At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who are focused.
Woman's University: Kim Q. Dau, MS, CNM, FACNM, has been involved in Education Program since 2014.
Tuition and Costs
Here's a look at the average tuition costs at various institutions:
- \$3,152 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$14,524 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$18,974 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$18,974 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$7,038 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$16,960 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$26,464 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$26,464 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$3,401 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$13,648 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$17,410 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$17,410 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$16,476 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$16,476 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$26,198 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$26,198 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$2,850 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$2,850 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- \$5,130 Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- \$11,640 Avg.
The Role of Nurse-Midwives
Nurse-Midwives are essential healthcare providers for women and newborns to 28 days and are needed to help address disparities in maternal-infant mortality and women’s health outcomes. Nurse-midwives promote normal physiological birth and non-intervention in normal processes but use appropriate interventions and technology when needed. Upon successful completion of the nurse-midwifery pathway, graduates are eligible to sit for the national board exam offered through the American Midwifery Certification Board. The certification rate is the number of graduates who become certified within the first year of taking the exam. The philosophy for the Nurse-Midwifery Pathway is to share patient-centered, equitable health care, by preparing diverse leaders who excel in practice, scholarship and education for women and families in Alabama, nationally and internationally.
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tags: #hbcu #midwifery #programs
