Progyny values equity and inclusion, and they have built a solution to support everyone. Their curated content library is filled with an abundance of information and this month they are focusing on health and wellness.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate and remember all the achievements made by African Americans throughout history. This celebration has been taking place since 1915, when Harvard historian Carter Woodson and minister Jesse Mooreland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) with the purpose of researching and promoting achievements of the Black community. Over the years, the celebration of Black History Month has expanded, and ever since 1976, the celebrations have revolved around a specific theme.
This year, the theme is “Black Health and Wellness” which aims to promote the legacy of medical practice and wellbeing activities that have evolved within the Black community. Even a brief glance at current and historical healthcare outcomes within this community signals that this focus is incredibly timely and must continue to be addressed.
One of the current challenges is finding a doctor with a common background. It’s clear the payoffs of having one, according to a 2020 study titled, “Physician–patient racial concordance and disparities in birthing mortality for newborns,” which showed the survival rate of Black babies almost doubled when treated by a Black physician. However, the trend of Black physicians have only increased by 4% over the last 120 years, according to a UCLA study titled, “Historical Trends in the Representativeness and Incomes of Black Physicians, 1900–2018.” While the numbers of Black physicians are low, the tide is changing and platforms are being created to make it easier to connect with these physicians, for example Health in Her Hue, Hued, and Irth App to name a few.
Additionally, addressing the systemic issues and prejudices Black men and women face during fertility and medical treatment must be a united movement that is backed by the community and its allies. While the resources that is included below are tailored towards those in the family building journey, much of the advice and insight applies across conditions and reasons to see a physician.
Overall well-being doesn’t begin when you’re looking to build a family or when you’re looking to find a physician who supports you. Comprehensive wellness resolves around what your body needs to feel good.
For many, finding support groups and resources where individuals can contribute as much or as little as they want can also promote wellbeing. Below are some additional resources specific to the family building journey.
Additional Resources
- Every Mother Counts
- The Broken Brown Egg
- 13 Therapy and Wellness Resources for Black Mental Health
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
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Story Source: This article originally appeared on Progyny’s website.