Experiencing Racial Microaggressions During Pregnancy Linked to High Blood Pressure in Postpartum Women

A new study led by scientists at Columbia University in New York has found women who experienced gendered racial microaggressions during pregnancy or delivery are more likely to experience high blood pressure in their first three months postpartum.

The study authors recruited a sample of 373 Asian, Black, and Hispanic women who delivered at four hospitals in Philadelphia and New York City in 2022 and asked them how often they experienced microaggressions during their obstetrical care. Following delivery, the participants were asked to periodically measure their blood pressure at home for their first three months postpartum. Additionally, the authors estimated each participants’ encounters with community-level structural racism based on the national Structural Racism Effect Index.

Upon analyzing their results, the authors found that over one-third of all participants experienced at least one gendered racial microaggression during pregnancy or delivery. The three-month average systolic and diastolic blood pressures of these participants were 2.12 mm Hg and 1.43 mm Hg higher than participants who did not encounter microagressions. Participants who experienced microaggressions and lived in areas with high levels of structural racism had average systolic and diaslotic measurements that were 7.55 mm Hg and 6.03 mm Hg higher than women who did not repot microaggression experiences and lived in communities with low-level structural racism.

The authors believe their findings provide evidence that increased exposure to racism may be contributing to the persistent racial inequities in maternal healthcare. They urge providers and policymakers to focus on improving maternal hypertension management and suggest future research should focus on identifying the most effective interventions that reduce gendered racial microaggressions in healthcare.

In addition to Columbia University, the research team included scholars from the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the University of Maryland.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Graduate Enrollment Surges at Winston-Salem State University

In fall 2024, Winston-Salem State University enrolled 244 new graduate students, an increase of 31.2 percent from the prior year. The HBCU now enrolls nearly 600 graduate students.

Two Black Women College Presidents Announce Their Retirements

Gilda Barbino, president of Olin College of Engineering, and Soraya Coley, president of Cal Poly, Pomona, have announced their plans to retire at the end of this academic year. Both Dr. Barbino and Dr. Coley are the first woman presidents of their institutions.

Norfolk State University to Construct a $118 Million STEM Facility

As part of an ongoing $90 million fundraising campaign, Norfolk State University has announced plans to establish a 131,000-square-foot STEM building to advance its research capabilities and science academic programming.

Two Black Men Selected for Academic Appointments at Universities

The faculty members with new appointments are Christopher Small at Florida State University and Dwight McBride at Washington University in St. Louis.

Featured Jobs