A Systemic Review of Maternal and Mental Health Inequalities in Black and Ethnic Minority Women in the UK

Abstract

Background: Women from Black ethnic backgrounds in the UK, have a higher risk than White women of maternal mortality and morbidity and they express significant concerns about systemic racism, stigma and overall dissatisfaction with care. The total rate of maternal mortality for Black and ethnic minority women has remained constant for more than ten years in comparison to white women. In the UK, death rates for women from various ethnic, age, and socioeconomic categories are known to vary. However, limited studies on how these rates have changed over time for various population subgroups have been conducted. Furthermore, women from ethnic minority groups are also more likely to develop mental health issues than white women. Poor perinatal mental health has a negative impact on maternal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, ensuring that heathcare services are created to match the specific needs of Black and ethnic minority women is paramount. Methods: The systematic search for relevant literature was conducted through two databases: Google Scholar and EBSCO search. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to find the contemporaneous, studies. Results: The findings presented with several discussions: the absence of cultural knowledge, ongoing stigma, unacceptable and fragmented health services, interactions with culturally ignorant and dismissive healthcare professionals, and inadequate and misconceptions about mental health all had an impact on Black and ethnic minority women's ability to receive adequate maternal and mental health care in the UK. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the unique challenges faced by ethnic minority women during pregnancy, which intersect with the unique problems posed by dissonance with other healthcare systems, potentially widening existing ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes, maternity care experiences and the significant differences in maternal mortality.