Shonda Brooks and Shawana Johnson
Recorded
December 16, 2023
Archived
December 16, 2023
41:26 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mby023401
Description
Dr. Shonda Brooks (50) speaks with her colleague Shawana Johnson (43) about their passion for reproductive justice and the health disparities and adverse outcomes for those experiencing childbirth, particularly Black women. Both emphasize the culture surrounding birth and reproductive care, which exists beyond the hospital.Subject Log / Time Code
Shonda and Shawana discuss the high rates of maternal mortality in the United States.
Shawana discusses her relationship to the maternal mortality rates in the United States and the context surrounding her work as a doula or birth worker.
Shawana describes the ways she helps families as a birth worker.
Shonda emphasizes the high rates of Black maternal mortality and the ways Black mothers face disproportionately negative birth outcomes and experiences.
Shawana describes the frequent use of surgical procedures on people experiencing childbirth.
Shawana names some "birth rights" people can exercise during the birthing process. Shonda describes their birthing experiences.
Shawana describes the history of childbirth and the ways childbirth is talked about in African-American communities.
Shawana describes a history of shame surrounding reproductive healthcare and conversations about it, as well as a lack of trust between patients and medical providers.
Shawana discusses the lack of healthcare access in her area as well as the options available for reproductive healthcare that people may not realize.
Shonda discusses the way poverty correlates with adverse health outcomes. Shawana describes the difficult choices that mothers experiencing poverty face.
Shawana tells a story about a young mother she knew and the difficulties they experienced in obtaining a basic standard of living and resources, which made it difficult for them to effectively parent and be healthy.
Both Shonda and Shawana continue to emphasize the struggles poverty brings into parents' lives that make it difficult to survive and thrive.
Shawana describes her work to empower mothers as a birth worker.
Shonda and Shawana discuss racial biases in healthcare. Shawana describes the disparate experiences of her clients of different races.
Shawana continues to describe the extent of the pressures mothers face and the ways they fall through the cracks and are neglected.
Shonda asks Shawana why she became a birth worker. Shawana speaks about her journey to becoming a birth worker and the meaningfulness of her work.
Shawana describes the impact of Medicaid accepting birth work as a covered service.
Both express gratitude for each other.
Participants
- Shonda Brooks
- Shawana Johnson