Policy Solution for Racial Disparities in Prenatal Care via Telehealth towards Black Birthing Women in the United States
Author(s): Harpreet Kaur Ghotra*
Abstract
Telehealth has revolutionized healthcare delivery by providing electronic information and telecommunications technologies to deliver health services remotely. While telehealth has increased access to care, it has also unintentionally created health disparities, particularly for individuals with lower socioeconomic status and limited digital literacy. These disparities further exacerbate existing inequities in healthcare, rooted in institutional racism and ageism. Inadequate prenatal care via telehealth has particularly affected black women, making it crucial to eliminate these inequalities. This paper explores two policy alternatives to improve access and satisfaction with prenatal care for black women. The first alternative proposes collaborating with community-based black women-led organizations to tailor telehealth programs to their specific needs. The second alternative suggests integrating prenatal telehealth services into patient records with automated prompts for direct referrals to social services. These policy approaches aim to address structural racism, improve health outcomes, and promote equitable healthcare for black-birthing women. Furthermore, the paper highlights the importance of increasing diversity in the medical field and providing cultural competency training to healthcare providers. Investing in social support systems is also recommended to address socioeconomic challenges faced by black mothers. Although telehealth is not a comprehensive solution, collaboration with community organizations and integration into patient records can help reduce disparities and put the life course theory into action.