Black Women's Health Imperative facts for kids

The Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI) is an organization focused on the health of African American women. It was first called the National Black Women's Health Project. It started in 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia. The group was formed because there was a clear need to help African American women with their health and choices about their bodies.

Byllye Avery was a main founder of the organization. She worked in healthcare in Florida in the 1970s. She saw how health policies affected women of color and women with lower incomes. Avery wanted to create a place where women could feel comfortable. She also wanted them to take charge of their own health decisions. Lillie Allen, a healthcare educator, also played a key role. She was especially interested in the birthing choices of African American women. She also wanted to address how unfair treatment could affect how people saw themselves within the community. Both women first worked with the National Women's Health Network. They started their project within that group.

Later, they decided to make "The Project" a separate organization. They felt that the National Women's Health Network was not focusing enough on the issues faced by Black women and women with lower incomes. This became clear during a conference at Spelman College in 1983. The BWHI works in two main ways. It acts as a grassroots group, focusing on community support for women. It also works on changing policies related to healthcare. By 1987, the National Black Women's Health Project had its main office in Atlanta, Georgia. It also had offices in Brooklyn, New York, and the Bay Area of California. Later, they opened an office in Washington, DC to work on policy issues. Their main office then moved to Washington, DC. The organization eventually changed its name to the Black Women's Health Imperative.

Health for African American Women in the US

The health of African American women in the US is often worse than that of other groups of women. They have higher rates of certain health problems. These include obesity and diabetes. They also face more challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. African American women are also more likely to die from serious illnesses like certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Many different things lead to these differences in health.

Some factors that affect health include a person's income, education, and where they live. Research shows that higher income and education often lead to better health. For example, African American women with higher incomes tend to have better heart health. Education is also strongly linked to better health outcomes for African American women. This shows how different levels of unfair treatment can affect physical health. These levels include unfair systems, personal unfairness, and how unfairness can affect how people see themselves. Studies have shown that mothers born outside the US often have better health before pregnancy. They also tend to get more prenatal care than those born in the US. They are also less likely to give birth too early.

Many health issues happen because African American women often get fewer needed health services. This includes routine check-ups and preventative care. In the last 50 years, African American women have been four times more likely to die from pregnancy challenges than white women. About four out of five African American women are considered overweight or obese. One in four African American women aged 55 and older have diabetes. This makes them almost twice as likely to have diabetes as white women. Studies also found that white women reported getting more advice about prenatal care and breastfeeding. African American women were also found to be 23 times more likely to die from serious pregnancy-related issues. These include conditions like preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage. African American women have also reported less trust in their doctors. This is due to past experiences in the healthcare system. They also tend to trust informal health information sources more. Some of these sources may not be based on facts.

Goals of the Imperative

The Black Women's Health Imperative has five main goals for Black women's health:

• Make Black women's health a top priority for governments and communities.
• Work to remove the health differences that exist for Black women.
• Make sure Black women can access health choices. They should feel strong enough to make real decisions. Their privacy in these decisions must be protected.
• Lower the high death rates among Black women from causes that can be prevented.
• Increase access to health insurance for Black women and their families.

Contributions and Projects

The National Black Women's Health Project started many projects. These projects focused on the overall women's health, not just specific areas. One project was "Walking for Wellness." It featured famous athlete Wilma Rudolph. This program encouraged African American women to improve their health through exercise. The organization's website offers many resources. These include information about healthcare issues and health choices. The BWHI has also published important books. These include "Body and Soul: A Black Women's Guide to Health and Well-Being" by Linda Villarosa. Another book is "Our Bodies, Our Voice, Our Choices." This book helps Black women understand their health and choices about their bodies.