Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Special Statement: Race in maternal-fetal medicine research: Dispelling myths and taking an accurate, anti-racist approach.
Profound inequities in maternal and infant outcomes based on race exist, and the maternal-fetal medicine community has an important role in eliminating these disparities. Accurately employing race and ethnicity as social constructs within research that guides clinical practice is essential to achieving health equity. We must abandon commonly propagated myths that race is a surrogate for genetics or economic status and that data are exempt from potential bias. These myths can lead to harmful misconceptions that exacerbate racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Further, these myths obscure racism as the true underlying etiology of racial disparities. Understanding that race is a social construct and utilizing an anti-racist approach to research are essential in combatting racism and eliminating unacceptable disparities in maternal and infant health. This document provides specific suggestions to approach the research process with an anti-racist framework.
['|||', 'Wheeler|Sarahn M|SM|', 'Bryant|Allison S|AS|', 'Bonney|Elizabeth A|EA|', 'Howell|Elizabeth A|EA|']
health equity racism anti-racism health disparity health inequity intersectionality