BIO

My name is A'Niya Sailor and I am a second-year student majoring in psychology with minors in sociology and criminology. I am from Quincy, Florida. I plan on obtaining a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and eventually opening mental healthcare clinics in marginalized and underrepresented communities. My research interests are developmental and social psychology, behavioral neuroscience, healthcare disparities, etc.

Gadsden County and the Politics of Birthing Spaces: The Making of an Invisible Care Desert

Abstract

With there being an increased interest in maternity care deserts, there has been less
emphasis on how such framings may render certain communities invisible. Although
Gadsden County, Florida, is not considered a maternity care desert, many of its
community members still experience it as such. The present study aims to investigate
the trajectory of maternal healthcare in Gadsden County for Black birthing persons. It
divulges birthing narratives, examining what such experiences mean for the community
and birthing care for African American birthing persons as a whole. By conducting
semi-structured interviews, this study aims to capture the social processes that impact
one’s ability to seek and navigate care within a perceived maternity care desert. The
study is divided into two groups: Black birthing residents (n=26) and reproductive
health advocates and professionals (n=14).
Many respondents within the study share birthing stories that detail forms of
obstetric violence and perceived racial discrimination. Furthermore, several
professionals acknowledge that there is a history of bias in the medical care system.
These biases directly impact African American individuals, especially those in
marginalized communities. The study reveals several emergent themes among members
of the community, including how they are naming barriers to care, resisting barriers to
care, and cultivating health equity. Although this study is not designed to be
generalizable since it is a qualitative case study situated in Gadsden County, further
research is still needed to explore how other marginalized communities navigate the
ever-shifting landscape of maternal healthcare within the U.S.

Keywords: Maternal Healthcare, Health Disparities, Gadsden County