Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RiR (Racialization in Reproduction: maternal health crisis among black women in Europe and the US.)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-09-01 bis 2023-08-31
Since the 2000s, a number of parallel trends testify adverse maternal health outcomes among Black migrant and Afro-descendant women in Europe and the US. RiR was the first ethnographic project that explored the link between maternal health issues and racial disparities in and outside Europe. The project consisted of two key activities: i) theoretical training in the US where the researcher explored Black Studies/ Race and Ethnic Studies that are still missing in Europe; and ii) research work carried out in the US to reflect in a comparative way on black maternal health issues across Europe. Moving from the current international debate on reproductive justice, RiR also investigated Black women’s mobilizations for suitable birthing options contrasting adverse maternal health outcomes in and outside Europe.
Thought the implementation of this set of activities RiR introduced new theories and new methods to advance the knowledge on Black maternal health in Europe where there is little data collected by race and ethnicity, and maternal health matters among ethnic minorities are poorly understood as a public health problem.
Thought the implementation of this set of activities RiR introduced new theories and new methods to advance the knowledge on Black maternal health in Europe where there is little data collected by race and ethnicity, and maternal health matters among ethnic minorities are poorly understood as a public health problem.
Theoretical training in the third country
The researcher attended five webinars, three courses at the City University of New York (Partner Organization), and six conferences in the third country. The researcher’s participation to these scientific events ensured the development of academic contacts and professional networks with health practitioners for the subsequent research activities of the project.
Academic exchanges
Transfer of knowledge activities and scientific events were proposed and organized by the researcher at the Partner Organization and the Host Institution. These international collaborations were extremely useful for a successful completion of the RiR project.
Statistical data collection and analysis
The researcher carried out a data collection work exploring statistical data about black maternal health in Europe and in the US. The processing of these data was carried out through the design of digital semantic maps. This is a new skill acquired by the researcher, who attended a digital maps training course organized by digital experts from the GIS centre of the Host Institution.
Ethics
A number of activities were carried out to improve the ethical aspects of the action (i.e. implementation of digital tools for data anonymization and data securization; research design in accordance with national and international laws on data protection). These activities were fulfilled by the researcher, in collaboration with the IT department and the Data Protection Officer of the Host Institution, the Legal department and the IRB commitee of the Partner Organization, the external ethical advisor of the RiR project.
Fieldwork activities
The researcher developed a collaborative research work with health professionals, birth workers and reproductive justice associations.
Observation activities were carried out during birth preparation courses, workshops and other public activities organized by birth workers (black doula) and reproductive justice associations based in New York City (Brooklyn, Harlem, Yonkers and the Bronx). The researcher also carried out interviews with health professionals (gynecologists and midwives), women, couples, doulas and reproductive justice activists.
Publications
The inputs obtained in the theoretical training, literature review, the processing of statistical and ethnographic data have been the basis for the submission of one individual article, two collective articles and five book chapters on RiR topics.
The knowledge generated by the project has also been exploited through the publication of two edited books, one focused on the relationship between maternal health issues and Covid-19 epidemic, and the other exploring public maternal health policies aimed at struggling social and racial disparities related to the right to health.
Two non-academic article on racial inequalities and racism in reproductive health experiences were published to reach a broad public.
International conferences
RiR results have been presented in five international conferences (i.e. European Association of Social Anthropologists Conference; American Anthropological Association Conference; Association of Social Anthropologists Conference; European Conference on African Studies; Association of Applied Italian Anthropology Conference).
Secondment
The researcher collected statistical data on global maternal health inequalities through the access to WHO databases. Three interviews with members of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) department were carried out. Additionally, the researcher attended three scientific events organized by the SRH department and other WHO departments.
The researcher attended five webinars, three courses at the City University of New York (Partner Organization), and six conferences in the third country. The researcher’s participation to these scientific events ensured the development of academic contacts and professional networks with health practitioners for the subsequent research activities of the project.
Academic exchanges
Transfer of knowledge activities and scientific events were proposed and organized by the researcher at the Partner Organization and the Host Institution. These international collaborations were extremely useful for a successful completion of the RiR project.
Statistical data collection and analysis
The researcher carried out a data collection work exploring statistical data about black maternal health in Europe and in the US. The processing of these data was carried out through the design of digital semantic maps. This is a new skill acquired by the researcher, who attended a digital maps training course organized by digital experts from the GIS centre of the Host Institution.
Ethics
A number of activities were carried out to improve the ethical aspects of the action (i.e. implementation of digital tools for data anonymization and data securization; research design in accordance with national and international laws on data protection). These activities were fulfilled by the researcher, in collaboration with the IT department and the Data Protection Officer of the Host Institution, the Legal department and the IRB commitee of the Partner Organization, the external ethical advisor of the RiR project.
Fieldwork activities
The researcher developed a collaborative research work with health professionals, birth workers and reproductive justice associations.
Observation activities were carried out during birth preparation courses, workshops and other public activities organized by birth workers (black doula) and reproductive justice associations based in New York City (Brooklyn, Harlem, Yonkers and the Bronx). The researcher also carried out interviews with health professionals (gynecologists and midwives), women, couples, doulas and reproductive justice activists.
Publications
The inputs obtained in the theoretical training, literature review, the processing of statistical and ethnographic data have been the basis for the submission of one individual article, two collective articles and five book chapters on RiR topics.
The knowledge generated by the project has also been exploited through the publication of two edited books, one focused on the relationship between maternal health issues and Covid-19 epidemic, and the other exploring public maternal health policies aimed at struggling social and racial disparities related to the right to health.
Two non-academic article on racial inequalities and racism in reproductive health experiences were published to reach a broad public.
International conferences
RiR results have been presented in five international conferences (i.e. European Association of Social Anthropologists Conference; American Anthropological Association Conference; Association of Social Anthropologists Conference; European Conference on African Studies; Association of Applied Italian Anthropology Conference).
Secondment
The researcher collected statistical data on global maternal health inequalities through the access to WHO databases. Three interviews with members of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) department were carried out. Additionally, the researcher attended three scientific events organized by the SRH department and other WHO departments.
The researcher organized one international workshop and one international policy meeting on RiR topics. These events have been the first in France exploring racialization process, maternal health issues and reproductive justice matters among Black populations. Reproductive rights associations (Black Doula European networks), public health workers, stakeholders and policy-makers (i.e. staff of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, members of the French Public Health Institute, members of the National Association of French Midwives) were invited and attended both events. Their presence provided concrete inputs to public health policies aimed at struggling social and racial disparities related to reproductive health and rights in France and Europe.
Dissemination activities have been carried out also through the accomplishment of publication projects. The inputs obtained in the international events (workshops and conferences) have been the basis for the submission of three Special Issues on RiR topics.
The high-ranked publication projects foreseen by the project as well as the theoretical and methodological skills acquired during the action have made the researcher academic profile more competitive for permanent recruitment in France and elsewhere in Europe. Additionally, the funding management skills the researcher acquired during the fellowship helped her to achieve greater autonomy in the design of a successful larger project (i.e. Horizon 2020) on reproductive rights (i.e. access to abortion care, access to assisted reproductive technologies) among ‘racialized’ populations in different continents (EU, US, Western Africa, South Africa, Brazil). The researcher, under the guidance of the Host Institution, is currently working on an ERC Consolidator application which will be submitted next year (ERC 2025 call for proposals).
Moving from the knowledge acquired during the theoretical training and fieldwork activities carried out in the US, the researcher introduced new theories and new methods to reflect in a comparative way on Black maternal health in Europe. One innovative input is the use of statistical data based on race and ethnicity as a European public health tool. The analysis the researcher carried out on how these data (that are still forbidden in France and other European countries) are used in the US represented a starting point for future collaborations with the French, and other European, Institutes of Statistic Studies making RiR a concrete contribution to advance knowledge on black maternal health matters.
Dissemination activities have been carried out also through the accomplishment of publication projects. The inputs obtained in the international events (workshops and conferences) have been the basis for the submission of three Special Issues on RiR topics.
The high-ranked publication projects foreseen by the project as well as the theoretical and methodological skills acquired during the action have made the researcher academic profile more competitive for permanent recruitment in France and elsewhere in Europe. Additionally, the funding management skills the researcher acquired during the fellowship helped her to achieve greater autonomy in the design of a successful larger project (i.e. Horizon 2020) on reproductive rights (i.e. access to abortion care, access to assisted reproductive technologies) among ‘racialized’ populations in different continents (EU, US, Western Africa, South Africa, Brazil). The researcher, under the guidance of the Host Institution, is currently working on an ERC Consolidator application which will be submitted next year (ERC 2025 call for proposals).
Moving from the knowledge acquired during the theoretical training and fieldwork activities carried out in the US, the researcher introduced new theories and new methods to reflect in a comparative way on Black maternal health in Europe. One innovative input is the use of statistical data based on race and ethnicity as a European public health tool. The analysis the researcher carried out on how these data (that are still forbidden in France and other European countries) are used in the US represented a starting point for future collaborations with the French, and other European, Institutes of Statistic Studies making RiR a concrete contribution to advance knowledge on black maternal health matters.