Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Balancing Wellness And Leadership: Exploring Black Women Administrators’ Subjective Well-Being, Resilience, And Radical Self-Care In Higher Education, Lashae Grottis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leaders in higher education experience high and unrealistic demands for their skills, time, and energy, causing stress, competing priorities, burnout, compromised health, and attrition. However, unlike other racial and gender groups, Black women higher education administrators experienced these challenges more intensely. As a result of chronic stress associated with being undervalued and overworked, discriminatory and unwelcoming workplaces, and intersectional biases, Black women leaders are leaving higher education workplaces. Despite the link between gendered racism and unwellness, little is known about the problem from a positive leadership perspective. This study addressed the lack of knowledge of the wellness strategies Black women …

The Lived Experiences Of Urhobo Women From The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria During The Menopausal Transition, Omemiyere Sheila Uwayzor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study offered an in-depth exploration of the menopausal experiences of seven Urhobo women, ages 45–65 years old, representing diverse occupational backgrounds and communities from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, who shed light on the multifaceted dimensions of menopausal experiences. Grounded in the Meleis transitions theory, the research presented thematic insights from semi-structured interviews, capturing the participants’ physiological, emotional, cultural, and healthcare-related experiences. Interviews were conducted with seven Urhobo women aged between 45 and 65 years old. These menopausal women responded to the research question regarding their lived experiences of Urhobo women during the menopausal transition. Using …

“I’M Staying And You’Re Gonna Love Me”: Finding Authentic Freedom & Fostering Belonging As Black Female Early Faculty, Roszina D. Scott, Tinotenda Mupambo

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The purpose of this reflection is to expand the knowledge on the retention of early Black female faculty by exploring their challenges and triumphs in dismantling Whiteness and developing an authentic sense of belonging in the academy. In higher education, Black women experience marginalization at the intersection of anti-black racism and sexism. Faculty of color experience racial microaggressions, excessive workloads and service expectations, and their expertise is seldom recognized. Despite these challenges, marginalized faculty authentically persist and find a sense of belonging within the ivory tower by building mentorship relationships, departmental DEI efforts, opportunities for innovation, and cultivating Black sisterhood. …

Screening For Uterine Fibroids In Black Women, Winnie N. Kagendo

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Uterine fibroids are benign growths in the uterine muscle that affect around 70% of women. Black women have a higher risk, with three times the likelihood of developing fibroids compared to other races.

Problem: The issue of uterine fibroids continues to be poorly addressed in healthcare settings. Black women continue to be particularly adversely impacted by this problem. There is a lack of better screening methods, leading to late detection and limited treatment options for those hoping to maintain fertility.

Methods: A quality improvement project was implemented at a primary care clinic in Loma Linda, California, using the Uterine …

Staff Matters: How Does Michigan’S New Crown Act Impact Dental Practices?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article discusses Michigan’s new CROWN Act prohibiting hair-based discrimination and its impact on dental offices. This article is an installment of the MDA Journal’s monthly Staff Matters® department.

Black Maternal Mortality: A Result Of The Haunting Past, Jaylynn Arnold

Global Honors Theses

Throughout history, Black women have been treated as less than human in a variety of traumatic ways for generations, all of which have negatively affected the physical and emotional well-being of free and enslaved Black women. This consisted of being victims of medical abuse, sexual abuse, degrading stereotypes, and the right to easily access basic human needs such as quality healthcare. Current research has shown that within the United States, Black women have the highest rate of maternal mortality than any other ethnicity of women especially when compared to white women. Being that 84% of these maternal deaths are preventable, …

Reframing Resistance, Resilience, And Racial Equity In Maternal Health: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Paternal Involvement And The Racial Disparity In Severe Maternal Morbidity, Marshara G. Fross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The preventable, persistent racial inequity observed in maternal and infant death has lasting impacts on African American communities and families. Fathers, partners, and co-parents are important supports during the sensitive and vulnerable perinatal period. Emerging research has begun to demonstrate a concerted effort to move beyond the sphere of medicine and quality improvement, towards exploring and integrating social factors into targeted intervention strategies to address racial inequality in health outcomes. However, sparse literature concentrates on understanding the role of fathers and partners in peripartum care and maternal health outcomes. This study aimed to explore, understand, and describe the role …

Our Story, Our Song: Assessing And Addressing Black Women's Healthcare Experiences., Jason Deakings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite advancements in medicine and health sciences, health disparities and declining life expectancy persists among Black women in the United States. Researchers and non-traditional healthcare providers suggest alternative healing (e.g., music and Sister Circles) and research methodologies to achieve a culturally conscious, traumainformed, quality, and holistic care and practice. The intersecting identities and cultural responsibility of Black women highly influences the barriers and facilitators on the uptake of healthcare services. Utilizing a community engaged research approach, this qualitative study assessed the healthcare experiences, as well as the role of music in the lived and retold experiences of Black women navigating …

Perinatal Experiences Of U.S. Black Women With Black Doula Support: A Phenomenological Study, Gina Furlano, Jo’Vonna Giles

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

Infant and maternal health disparities are threatening Black families across the United States. The maternal mortality rate for Black women is 2.9 times the rate of White women. Black women are experiencing racism, discrimination, disrespect, and neglect in their perinatal care. Continuous labor support, such as a doula, is associated with improved perinatal care experiences and outcomes. Community-based doula programs seek to address disparities in perinatal outcomes through racially/culturally concordant relationships between birthing women and doulas. Several studies explore Black women’s perinatal care experiences, but few studies describe the experiences of Black women who have had Black doula support. Rooted …

Sunscreen Is Not Just For White People: Church-Based Sunscreen Education For Black Women, Lauren Mitchell

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: African American women are an undeserved population in healthcare, particularly regarding skin cancer prevention. The lack of education and misinformation surrounding skin cancer has resulted in general mistrust of the healthcare system amongst African Americans. Proper education on sunscreen use and skin cancer screening is essential to prevent late diagnosis of skin cancer and to promote prevention efforts.

Purpose: This quality improvement project utilized evidence-based practice to provide education on the proper use of sunscreen and skin cancer screening to African American women in a faith-based setting in Southern Connecticut.

Methods: A pre-survey was conducted to assess …

Patient Perspectives On Noninvasive Prenatal Testing Among Black Women In The United States: A Scoping Review, Shameka P. Thomas, Madison A. Keller, Tiara Ranson, Rachele E. Willard

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Advances in reproductive health technologies such as noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are changing the landscape of prenatal care and maternal health. NIPT, made clinically available in the United States (US) in 2011, is a screening test that utilizes cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to detect for aneuploidies and genetic characteristics in fetal DNA. In September 2020, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended NIPT for all pregnant patients regardless of age or risk factors. We examined peer-reviewed, empirical studies published from January 2011 to February 2022, assessing NIPT studies with patient perspectives in the US and what is known about …

Black Women’S Body Image, Breast Cancer, And Post Traumatic Growth, Harriette Richard, Antonia S. Mead

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Black women’s body image is influenced by several factors but when women have breast cancer, a “new normal” extends from diagnosis to long after reconstruction. This pilot study examines Black women’s breast cancer experience beginning with social networks, diagnosis, health care, the medical community, and breast reconstruction, ending with PTSD and Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). A convenience sample was surveyed and a qualitative research methodology was utilized to analyze responses from Black female breast cancer survivors. Research questions included body image perceptions after surgery and post-reconstruction. The participants go through adversity, find strength, and grow, ready to face the next …

Community Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives On Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Use Among Black Women, Kayla Pitchford, Sylvia Shangani, Charlotte Dawson, Kristin Heron

College of Sciences Posters

The most at-risk population among women for HIV diagnosis in the U.S. are Black women, who account for 61% of all new HIV cases. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and effective HIV prevention method for people at risk of HIV acquisition. Despite being disproportionately affected by HIV, Black women’s knowledge, perceived benefits, and uptake of PrEP remain low. The socio-ecological model may be useful for understanding why there is a low uptake of PrEP among Black women by examining the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. The current study used the socio-ecological framework to explore provider …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Women With Hysterectomy For Benign Fibroids, Clarise M. Jackson-Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black women are more likely than women of any other race in the United States to undergo an abdominal hysterectomy instead of a less invasive and less damaging laparoscopic or robotic procedure for benign fibroids. Although Black women are the population most disparately affected by benign fibroids, as evidenced by higher morbidity and mortality rates due to complications, they are often excluded in clinical research. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black women who decided to undergo an invasive abdominal hysterectomy for benign fibroids. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 Black women, …

The Costly Performance Of Strength: An Exploration Of Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Black Women In The Deep South, Amber N. Martin

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Strength is indoctrinated into the cultural tapestry of Black women, dating back to slavery, and passed down through intergenerational socialization. The incessant need for Black women to be strong diminishes their psychological health leading to poorer quality of life. Further, historical injustices and unethical practices in mental healthcare continue to perpetuate the need for Black women to perform in strength. The performance of strength is one explanation for the grave mental health disparities among Black women offering an opportunity to better understand their mental health needs. This project aims to center Black women within the cultural contextualization of the …

How Racial Trauma Manifests In Black Women From Direct And Indirect Encounters With Police Brutality, Ashley Turner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This phenomenological study explored Black women’s lived experiences with racial trauma stemming from direct and indirect encounters with police brutality. A total of nine participants living in Washington state participated in this study. They identified as Black, ciswomen, fluent in English, and at least 21-years-old. In-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences with police. Transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results consisted of the following five themes: (a) forms of police encounters, (b) influence of identity, (c) perceived reason for police brutality, (d) emotions stemming from police brutality, and (e) tactics to survive police interactions. …

Pilot Testing The Effectiveness Of Whether A Survey-Driven Tablet-Based Intervention Increased Willingness Of Black Women To Attend To An Initial Prep Clinic Visit: The Protocol For The Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Design And Methods, Mandy J Hill, Angela M Heads, Charles Green, Robert Suchting, Angela L Stotts

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Implicit Bias Training For Perinatal Nursing, Racheal Lakine-Harden

Dissertations

Problem: Maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality is a rising health care crisis in the United States. Black women are disproportionately affected. Clinician implicit bias and medical racism have been named as factors in this crisis. Recommendations to address this public health peril include; educating and raising awareness among front-line perinatal nursing staff on implicit bias and its consequences for Black women. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of implicit bias training on nurses’ awareness of implicit bias, attitudes, and beliefs about disparities, and the likelihood to engage in behaviors to reduce or address racial bias …

Preparing To Break Barriers: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of The Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceptions Of Hiv, Prep, And Hiv Risk Behaviors Among Women Of Color In Miami, Florida, Amanda C. Ichite

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. HIV epidemic is characterized by regional, racial, and ethnic disparities. HIV rates are disproportionately higher in the South and Black and Hispanic populations are most impacted. Moreover, the intersectional identity of being a Black or Hispanic woman living in the South has been associated with profound disparities in HIV impact. Prior to the advent of the biomedical HIV prevention tool pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2012, women were limited in their options for female-controlled HIV prevention strategies. Despite the proven efficacy of PrEP, utilization in women is significantly lower than other at-risk groups. In the present study, secondary analysis …

Superwoman Schema: Fighting Back With Holistic Therapy, Chavonne Good

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

For decades, Black women have upheld the stereotype of being consistently strong, capable, tenacious, and unwavering throughout life’s many challenges. Unfortunately, while being resolute in their desire to succeed against all odds, many Black women have unknowingly embraced the characteristics of a phenomenon known as Superwoman Schema. Superwoman Schema consists of five characteristics that are not inherently negative. However, when Black women consistently embody these traits which include the determination to succeed and to be strong, and an obligation to help others; they may neglect their own self-care needs. Subsequently, while neglecting themselves, focusing on others, and continuously trying to …

Addressing Maternal Mental Health Among Black Perinatal Women In Atlanta, Georgia: A Cbpr Approach, Natalie Hernandez, Sherilyn Francis, Brielle Evans, Andrea G. Parker, Jemea Dorsey, Danette Mclaurin Glass, Mica Whitfield, Elise Blasingame, Pamela Braxton, Rasheeta Chandler

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the most common complication of pregnancy, affecting up to 1 in 5 childbearing women, with higher rates among low-income minority women. One in seven women suffer from perinatal depression. This study aimed to (1) assess the mental and emotional health challenges of underserved Black perinatal women in Atlanta, Georgia (GA) and (2) examine local priorities and sources of care for mental health among underserved women in Atlanta, GA.

Methods: A community-based participatory research partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) and the Center for Black Women’s Wellness (CBWW)’s Atlanta Healthy Start Community …

African American Women’S Body Image Perceptions And The Built Environment, Andrea Denise Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) women have a 54.8% overall obesity rate in the United States. This quantitative cross-sectional study’s aim was to determine what factors may have an impact on body image perceptions of AA women in Alabama and New Jersey. A gap in research this study addressed is sociodemographic and geographic differences that may impact obesity rates among AA women. The theoretical framework used for this study was the social cognitive theory. Secondary data were obtained from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Linear regression (LR) analyses results showed that none of the sociodemographic variables (education level, employment status, …

Black And White Health Disparities: Racial Bias In American Healthcare, Yasmeen Almomani

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

This paper explores the historical implications of race in American society that have led to implicit racism in the healthcare system. Racial bias in healthcare against Black people is a factor in the health disparities between Black and white people in America, such as the gap in life expectancy, infant death, and maternal mortality. Black people are more likely to report racial discrimination from healthcare providers, which is a reason for the decreased quality of care received. The past justifications of slavery, the Tuskegee syphilis study, and the medical experimentations on Black women are horrifying but were considered acceptable in …

In With A Runny Nose, Out In A Body Bag: Why Is It So Difficult For Black Women To Leave The Hospital Alive?, Chelsea Carter

Liberal Arts Capstones

In the Black community, there is an unspoken understanding about going to the doctor with a runny nose, and leaving in a body bag. A recent article published by The Oprah Magazine demonstrates that racism is rampant in the United States healthcare system, and it is taking the lives of Black women at an alarmingly disproportionate rate (Stallings, 2018). When seeking medical treatment, many Black women are at the mercy of doctors who hold an implicit bias against Black women. Simply put, implicit bias describes when people behave and treat others based on negative preconceptions they have about other people, …

Addressing Maternal Mortality Rates Of Black Women In The Us: California's Example, Selah Laigo

Humanities and Cultural Studies | Senior Theses

This essay examines California’s legislation, activism, and the role of women’s clinics in serving Black communities in the fight against maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is a death related to pregnancy or childbirth. In the United States, maternal mortality rates have been increasing since the beginning of the 21st century and there is a significant racial disparity with Black women being at greater risk. Despite national rates increasing, California has managed to decrease maternal mortality rates (MMR) since the early 2000s by adopting legislation and policies that work to decrease preventable deaths, multidisciplinary maternity care for the protection of Black women, …

Exploring The Intersection Of Race, Socioeconomic Status, Breastfeeding And Breast Cancer, Joanna Lafrance

Honors College

This thesis examines the negative correlation between breastfeeding duration and breast cancer rates and how they may intersect with race and socioeconomic status for Black women in the United States. There is well documented evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, as recommended by the American Pediatric Association, has numerous benefits to both mother and baby, specifically in decreasing the mother’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (1). Similarly, many resources state a negative correlation between number of offspring and breast cancer risk. However, after a systematic analysis of 91 articles was conducted, it appears that statements like …

Illuminating Health Disparities: The Untold Story Of Black Women’S Pregnancies, Kacy Workman

Osmosis Magazine

Recent studies have found that Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women. Researchers in the 1990s examined data surrounding specific pregnancy complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, finding that although prevalence rates were similar between White and Black women, Black women with these conditions were 2-3 times more likely to die than their White counterparts. Despite medical advances, these rates have not improved over time. Data analyses examining maternal mortality from 2005 – 2014 reveal that mortality rates for Black women have actually increased from 39 to 49 deaths for every 100,000 live …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Examine Racial Disparities In Adherence To Surveillance Mammography Among Breast Cancer Survivors, Megan C. Edmonds

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: Annual surveillance mammography is a critical part of routine cancer care for breast cancer (BC) survivors; reducing mortality by 39%. However, disparities exist with regard to adherence to surveillance mammograms among BC survivors; Black women are 44% less likely to adhere than their White counterparts. Despite the existence of this racial disparity for over a decade, little is known about factors that explain reasons for Black BC survivors’ non-adherence. This is because most studies have not evaluated the role of healthcare delivery or psychosocial factors. Guided by the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, the purpose of this mixed methods …

Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown: Black Men’S Perspective On Harmful Effects Of Hair Product Use And Breast Cancer Risk, Dede K. Teteh, Marissa Chan, Bing Turner, Brian Hedgeman, Marissa Ericson, Phyllis Clark, Eudora Mitchell, Emily Barrett, Adana Llanos, Rick Kittles, Susanne Montgomery

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Racial disparities in breast cancer are well-documented, and Black women assume a disproportionate burden of breast cancer mortality. Black women also commonly use hair products containing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) more often at an increased rate, as compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Emerging findings have reported the use of hair and other personal care products containing EDCs may contribute to breast cancer risk. While some sociocultural perspectives about hair and identity have been explored, the role of beauty expectations upheld by males has not been studied. Through a community-based participatory methodology, we explored perceptions and beliefs held by Black men …

The Lived Experience Of Pregnancy As A Black Woman In America: A Descriptive Phenomenological Case Study, Jodie C. Gary, Sharon L. Dormire, Jamil Norman, Idethia S. Harvey Drph

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

PURPOSE: Health disparities in childbearing black women in the United States have continued through multiple decades despite overall improvements in pregnancy-related outcomes for other ethnicities. Pregnancy outcomes for black women include greater risks of maternal mortality, severe morbidity, as well as preterm and low birthweight infants. From a person-centered perspective, the description of the lived experiences of adversity for pregnant black women is missing from the literature. This omission is believed to attribute to the continued health disparities in this population.

METHODS: While the study was originally designed using focus group methodology for data collection for a larger number of …