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. Furthermore, these myths
obscure racism as the true underlying etiology of racial disparities. Understanding
that race is a social construct and using an antiracist approach to research are essential
in combating racism and eliminating unacceptable disparities in maternal and infant
health. This document provides specific suggestions to approach the research process
with an antiracist framework.
Key words
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Published online: November 10, 2021
Footnotes
All authors and committee members have filed a disclosure of interests, delineating personal, professional, business, or other relevant financial or nonfinancial interests in relation to this publication. Any substantial conflicts of interest have been addressed through a process approved by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Board of Directors. SMFM has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the specific content development of this publication.
This document has undergone an internal peer review through a multilevel committee process within SMFM. This review involves critique and feedback from the SMFM Publications and Document Review Committees and final approval by the SMFM Executive Committee. SMFM accepts sole responsibility for the document content. SMFM publications do not undergo editorial and peer review by the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The SMFM Publications Committee reviews publications every 18 to 24 months and issues updates as needed. Further details regarding SMFM publications can be found at www.smfm.org/publications.
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recognizes that obstetric patients have diverse gender identities and is striving to use gender-inclusive language in all of its publications. SMFM will be using terms such as “pregnant person/persons” or “pregnant individual/individuals” instead of “pregnant woman/women” and will use the singular pronoun “they.” When describing study populations used in research, SMFM will use the gender terminology reported by the study investigators.
All questions or comments regarding the document should be referred to the SMFM at [email protected]
Reprints will not be available.
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