Many California hospitals have not implemented bias training for their staff, despite the state’s high maternal mortality rate among Black women, a recent investigation has found. The California Department of Public Health developed a training to address implicit bias in maternal care, but records show that from 2020 to early 2023, fewer than half of hospitals completed it.
Black women in California are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Experts say implicit bias among healthcare providers is a key factor contributing to this disparity. The training aims to make providers aware of their biases and equip them with tools to ensure patients receive equitable care.
However, the state did not enforce the training requirement and many hospitals disregarded it. Some cited staffing shortages and pandemic-related challenges as reasons for non-compliance. Advocates argue that addressing racial bias is crucial to improving maternal health outcomes and call for the state to hold hospitals accountable.
The findings highlight the urgent need for healthcare institutions to prioritize equity and take concrete steps to eliminate racial disparities in care. Failure to do so continues to put the lives of Black mothers at risk.
See “Despite high Black maternal death rate, California hospitals ignored training about bias in care” by Kristen Hwang on Cal Matters (October 30, 2023)
