I Wouldn't Let it Get to Me: Pregnant Black Women's Experiences of Discrimination

We present a qualitative analysis of Black women's experiences of racial discrimination and pregnancy to shed light on some of these complexities. Study Design and Methods: Qualitative interviews that addressed racial discrimination and pregnancy were conducted as part of a larger study of pregnant Black women that examined social support, neighborhood disorder, and racial discrimination. Interviews were coded for descriptions of racial discrimination and within and across case analysis was conducted. Results: Women described varying experiences of racial discrimination in different contexts. Shielding emerged as a recurring theme in women's accounts of dealing with racial discrimination during pregnancy. Clinical Implications: Nurses engaged in maternity care need an understanding of how pregnant Black women experience racial discrimination in different ways. Black women may be likely to take personal responsibility for managing discrimination-related stress in pregnancy as a consequence of direct experiences of discrimination. Nurses can support pregnant Black women by recognizing varied experiences of racial discrimination, and by not blaming them for experiences or potential resultant outcomes.
Source: MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing - Category: Nursing Tags: Feature Source Type: research