Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdullah considers herself a stress and anxiety researcher who is passionate about perinatal mental health and impact on pregnancy outcomes specifically in black and brown women. Assistant Professor UNC Chapel Hill.She is a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Mindfulness Instructor, and Assistant Professor, a wife, mother of four and a plant lover.
Dr. Karen is trying to get answers on why, despite decades of research, the black and brown communities have twice the rate of preterm birth and higher rates of death compared to white women. Using her depth of knowledge, experience and education, Dr. Karen is an advocate for birth equity, mental health awareness and mindfulness. In this episode, she shares the life event that has had the most significant impact on the trajectory of her life and the decisions she’s made to become the person and mother she is today. She also begins to discuss what she’s found through her research that is part of the cause of our maternal healthcare failing black women in the United States.
Dr. Karen Sheffield Abdullah’s introduction.
Her first thought when she wakes up in the morning.
Dr. Karen’s morning mindfulness practice.
The life events that have had the most significant impact on her and life’s trajectory.
Dr. Karen gives examples of how maternal healthcare is failing black women in the United States.
Mixed methods and qualitative research provide evidence of how she’s seen maternal healthcare failing black and brown women playing out.
Why have we not yet discovered what has caused black women to have abysmal outcomes over the past four decades in regard to maternal morbidity, mortality, and pregnancy outcomes.
The repeated stressors that are unique to black and brown women and causing impacts on the unborn fetus.
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