CityLine: EmpowerHer gives Black women a platform to advocate for their health
Boston public health commission focuses on disparities
Updated: September 29, 2024 12:31 PM EDT
Please give her strength. The Boston Public Health Commission advances health equity for Black women and their families. A conference will be held at Boston University next month. Focuses on the impact of maternal morbidity, breast cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health disorders on Black women. And Dr. Bisola Ojikutu also joined us. She is the executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. and Melissa Hector, director of equity and strategic initiatives at the Boston Public Health Commission. Welcome both of you. Dr. Ojikutu, let’s start by talking about diabetes. In our city, Black and Latinx women are diagnosed with diabetes at higher rates than white and Asian women. What is contributing to this number? We are looking at what makes these women more vulnerable. Interestingly, not only do they have a higher diagnosis rate, but they also have significantly higher mortality rates from diabetes, as diabetes is the leading cause of death. So the question becomes not just why they get infected, but what is happening in our care system that is causing them to become more severely ill. Of course, we are talking about obesity. We’re talking about being overweight. We’re talking about genetics, we’re talking about food and food access, food security and nutrition security. So there are many factors that make us Black women and other women of color more vulnerable. Well, the annual number of births has been steadily declining since 2017. So let’s understand these numbers correctly. 7728 to 6788. 12% decrease in 2021. And this decline is evident among Asian, Black, and Latino residents. Meanwhile, the number of births among white residents has remained stable. Dr. Ojikutu, does declining birth rates tell us anything else about the health of a particular community? Well, that may be true. I do think there are reproductive health concerns that Black women and women of color face. I think we should be concerned about high rates of infertility in certain populations. I think that’s definitely a problem. But one of the things we’re looking at in terms of birth rates is the decline in teen births. And a young woman with a child. In many ways, this is a good thing in that women want to make their own choices to stabilize their lives. Get ready for a good future with your children as you know. Melissa, I’d like you to explain your efforts to promote the health of Black women. What is the purpose of the conference? Yes. Therefore, the mission of Empowering Her is to provide space and environment for Black women in the diaspora. A variety of resources to enable African Diaspora and their communities, greater access to health care, and greater access to the resources that Boston has to offer. We’re a very resource-rich city and we’re really helping to amplify the voice of this movement around a lot of the data that’s impacting Black women in the city. And, you know, Melissa, we talk a lot about health disparities for Black women. What are some recent accomplishments or improvements in community health that are a result of the work being done by the Boston Public Health Commission and others? Great question. There has been a significant increase in Black women taking the lead in leadership roles, such as registered nurses, community health workers, and even doulas. Here at the Board of Health, we have a very diverse workforce that focuses on child and maternal health and youth development. This gives us the opportunity to expand our capabilities and reach to Black women in our communities. Also, do things like empower her to help residents understand that this is an important initiative for the city of Boston. Melissa, what’s next for the Commission’s equity work? After the summit, after the conference, what are you going to do with your work on women’s health? Great question. So give her strength, that’s it. This is the beginning of this massive women’s health initiative. Our tagline is all about inspiring Black women, amplifying their voices, and cultivating wellness. And it’s this commitment to nurturing health that takes us to the next step, the Women’s Health Initiative, a larger, broader effort focused on all women. But starting with Black women at the core, as Dr. Ozikutu said, because we see a lot of inequality here. I found out that it is currently being held at Boston University. To you and me. We are both BU alumni, and BU organizers have hosted the Black Women’s Longitudinal Health Study for many years. I suspect this is partly related to the research already being done at universities. Please proceed. of course. As you said, Karen BU is important to us as an alumnus, but it’s also important that he has been working with the city for a long time and is committed to anti-racist systems and work. We thought it would be perfect to host this at Boston University, especially in conjunction with the new work the university is doing with Dr. Ojiktu. Do you want to say something? There is a large amount of data and information generated by this research, and I think we will be using much of it to inform future activities. So these issues around diabetes, heart disease, increased mortality in breast cancer are areas where we see significant need among Black women. That’s why, like Melissa said, we’re starting with Black women. Because you know, that’s where the greatest need is. And we have the data to drive it. That’s exactly right. And we will move forward. And, of course, a broader commitment to all women. Well, I think it’s going to be a great conference. And congratulations to the two of you who planned and put it together. Dr. Bisol
CityLine: EmpowerHer gives Black women a platform to advocate for their health
Boston public health commission focuses on disparities
Updated: September 29, 2024 12:31 PM EDT
Maternal illness, breast cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health disorders all disproportionately impact Black women. The Boston Public Health Commission will host a one-day conference at Boston University focused on addressing health inequities impacting Black women. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, and Melissa Hector, Director of Equity Strategic Initiatives at the Boston Public Health Commission, explain why this conference is groundbreaking and necessary.
Boston —
Maternal illness, breast cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health disorders all disproportionately impact Black women. The Boston Public Health Commission will host a one-day conference at Boston University focused on addressing health inequities impacting Black women. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, and Melissa Hector, Director of Equity Strategic Initiatives at the Boston Public Health Commission, explain why this conference is groundbreaking and necessary.
