Black Mamas Matter: Addressing Maternal Health Disparities in Gary, Indiana

Capital B Gary, in a project supported by the Pulitzer Center, is inviting residents to engage and learn more about Black maternal health.

“What can we do to improve Black maternal health?”

The question, from a single mom in Gary, Indiana, fell on the empathetic ears of nearly 20 other women at J’s Breakfast Club in Gary. But the query, all too common, has reached far beyond the walls of the eatery in Northwest Indiana: It’s been ringing in the minds of Black women for generations as they experience the highest maternal mortality rates not only in Indiana, but in the nation. Capital B Gary has sought to find some answers to these critical questions.

Black mothers in Gary have long faced challenges in maternal health care, from inadequate prenatal support to systemic disparities to environmental hazards that impact their well-being. Out of Indiana’s 92 counties, Lake County, home to Gary, has the ninth-highest maternal mortality rate in the state, according to the Indiana Department of Health.

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At our first event, “Black Moms and Mimosas: A Community Dialogue” in September 2024, we heard directly from over 18 Black mothers who shared personal struggles and urgent questions about their care and what resources were available to them. They asked critical questions on how to navigate racism in the medical system, how to protect their mental health while raising children, and how health care providers can be held accountable for better treatment.

Now, as part of our journey, Capital B Gary has worked to engage with experts, medical professionals, and advocates to help answer these pressing concerns. Coming off the heels of the newsroom’s previous dialogue, residents are invited to come to our next community engagement event, “Black Mamas Matter: A Panel Discussion.” 

Ahead of the next panel discussion, we’re sharing key takeaways from our first event and previewing the solutions that will be explored in the upcoming discussion.

Questions about maternal health that demand answers

At our first event, Black mothers raised powerful, deeply personal questions about their experiences and fears. These questions shaped the conversation and continue to guide the work toward solutions. After the discussion, mothers submitted additional questions through a survey.

These are some of the questions they asked — and the answers we uncovered through our reporting:

Q: “I would like more details on the cause of the maternal deaths in our area. Were there medical issues? Social issues? Were the deaths deemed preventable?”

Indiana’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) is a committee that reviews pregnancy-associated deaths (those occurring up to a year after pregnancy) and pregnancy-related deaths (those occurring during pregnancy) across the state. It identifies factors that contribute to these deaths, deems them preventable or non-preventable, and recommends actions to avoid future tragedies.

According to a 2023 report from the MMRC, 77% of pregnancy-related deaths in Indiana were deemed preventable. Similarly, 71% of pregnancy-associated deaths were preventable in 2021. Substance abuse was one of the highest contributing factors to maternal mortality cases, while inadequate access to maternal health care and maternal mental health care were also significant factors.

The state report also found that Black women have consistently died at higher rates than white women in both pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths, despite making up a smaller number of births. Pregnancy-associated deaths occur up to a year after pregnancy, while pregnancy-related deaths occur during pregnancy.

Because state health data is collected at the county level, specific figures for Gary are not available. However, data from Lake County, where Gary is located, is included in the state’s overall data.

Q: “What is the city of Gary doing to address these disparities?”

Gary Health Commissioner Janet Seabrook, who also founded local clinic Community HealthNet, told Capital B Gary that solving Gary’s multifaceted problem requires a holistic solution that considers multiple factors. 

“I think that people know the reality that maternal mortality exists in higher numbers in African Americans and other minorities,” she said. “The programs are there, we know that they’re there, but there are so many other issues, those social determinants that are impacting those pregnant women,” she said.

She also highlighted how financial strain, child care access, pre-existing medical conditions, and food and housing insecurity add to the burden on expecting mothers. Addressing these stressors, she said, is key to tackling Black maternal health disparities.

Looking ahead, Seabrook said the city is eyeing more ways to support maternal health. In the meantime, the Gary Health Department provides some holistic solutions, including free pregnancy and STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing, and providing referrals to obstetricians at health clinics outside the Gary Health Department because the health department does not currently have an obstetrician-gynecologist.

In addition, she pointed to educational and medical resources available through the Northwest Indiana Health Department Cooperative in Hammond, which offers prenatal care, postpartum depression treatment, and health education and nutrition classes.

Q: “How can I handle my mental health while being a mother and a wife?”

Maternal mental health conditions affect 1 in 5 mothers in the U.S., impacting approximately 800,000 families each year, studies show. Black women are among the most under-treated groups, experiencing depression and anxiety at twice the rate of white women but receiving treatment half as often, according to a 2023 Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) report.

Nearly 40% of Black mothers experience maternal mental health issues, the report found. These mental health conditions can stem from systemic and logistic barriers, including distrust of the health care system, over-policing by child protective services, lack of access to child care, getting time off work, and the cumulative “weathering” effect of racism.

Organizations like the Black Women’s Health Imperative and the MMHLA offer mental health resources to show how, when it comes to taking care of their mental health, mothers are far from alone. To help remove some of these barriers, experts recommend that they don’t be afraid to seek help when needed, ditching the stigma behind the “strong Black woman.”

The post-event survey revealed a strong demand from community members for more solution-focused stories that connect them to resources and support groups like this one. Capital B Gary will continue to explore these questions, seek solutions, and embed them into the community.

Key takeaways from the first maternal health event

From the conversations, several key themes emerged:

Environmental factors and health risks 

Porchea McGuire, a Gary farmer and food justice advocate, pointed to widespread soil contamination as a significant environmental hazard affecting children’s health in many areas.

“They will tear down factories, tear down all these other places and build homes right on top of them, without remediating the soil or actually doing soil testing. And then we got kids playing at these parks, digging in the dirt. These things are going into our lungs [and] in our homes.”

She stressed the need for stricter regulations and monitoring of environmental hazards from demolitions, roadwork, and new developments in Gary, including soil testing for lead.

Dr. Tiffany Jamison, who works with an agricultural program in Gary, echoed these concerns.

“When you’re thinking about a place like Gary … we’re seeing the effects of the environment and the negative effects it’s having on children. I think it’s a lot of factors that play into the social, economic, and environmental flow here.”

Education and advocacy

Many mothers shared that they had to advocate for themselves and their children, educating themselves on birthing options while navigating the “angry Black woman” stereotype with providers.

Bianca Wilson, a practicing doula, emphasized that doulas provide a valuable alternative to hospital births and stressed the importance of educating clients about all their birthing options.

 “I tell women to advocate, advocate. You don’t have to ask permission to give birth. That’s not their place to tell you whether or not you can have a birth doula. You are letting them know. You’re not asking,” she said. 

One mother recalled her concern when her daughter’s doctor recommended an unnecessary procedure that wasn’t part of her plan. The experience led her to learn more about advocating with medical providers.

“When the doctor and the birthing plan bump heads, what is that?” she asked. “Is that just due to disrespect, or is there a clinical reason? Would you be comfortable with the provider steering you away from your birthing plan? We want you to be able to have your voice heard but want to be safe about this.” 

Another mother spoke about the lack of postpartum mental health support.

“When the baby is born, a lot of people focus on the child,” she said. “They don’t really focus on the mother. And after my third child, I had postpartum depression, so then it was a struggle, but nobody even noticed that I was going through it … so a lot of times, the mom is ignored and left to deal with it on their own.”

Next for Gary:  Panel and solutions

The Black Mamas Matter panel on March 8 will bring together medical professionals, community advocates, and mothers to discuss solutions and create accountability in Black maternal health. The discussion will give residents an opportunity to hear from dedicated professionals, followed by a Q&A from the audience.

Similar to the newsroom’s previous “Black Moms and Mimosas” community dialogue, residents are invited to come enjoy free food and drinks while we learn, share resources, and further the critical conversations needed to support the Black moms in our community.

This event will highlight actionable solutions for improving Black maternal health in Gary, with panelists including:

• Glynis Adams, assistant director of perinatal services at Methodist Hospital
  Adams has been a perinatal nurse for over 40 years. Her work has focused on health care disparities and decrease in infant mortality and maternal mortality in underserved areas. 
• Dr. Maya Dominique, OB-GYN
  Dominique is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. She spent four years at NorthShore Health Centers in Northwest Indiana, and she now serves areas across the state as an independent contractor OB/GYN. Dominique also organizes an annual women’s health fair in Gary. 
• Bianca Wilson, birthing doula
  Wilson, a Gary mother of five and grandmother of two, has been a certified birth doula since 2019. Through her business, Birthing with Bianca, she supports clients in having positive birth experiences and empowers them to navigate the birthing process. To date, she has assisted in more than 90 births.