This is our third article focussing on how speakers at previous events have had an impact on practice. It is not just midwives who have made a difference. Following poor personal experiences for themselves and others, Clotilde Abe and Tinuke Awe set up the UK-based campaign organisation Five X More to raise awareness of the disparity in maternal health for Black women. This talk points to the early stages of the organisation.
In the UK in 2019 the MBRRACE maternal mortality report of 2015-2017 demonstrated the disparity for Black women in the UK, being five times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth compared to white women. Following poor personal experiences for themselves and others, Clotilde Abe and Tinuke Awe set up the UK-based campaign organisation Five X More to raise awareness of this disparity in maternal health for black women. Their aim is to provide advocacy, education and community support to empower Black women during pregnancy and childbirth. They are also active in campaigning to change policy and improve practice to reduce inequity for black women.
They provide significant information and resources on their website, to support women and families and have developed a culturally tailored pregnancy and parenting app for Black women. Their work has also led to creating platforms to bring wide awareness to Black women’s health, and political lobbying, leading to providing secretarial support for the All-party parliamentary group on black maternal health.
There is no doubt that in a short space of time Clo and Tinuke have made a difference in raising awareness of the needs of black women and working with maternity specialists and politicians to keep this on the agenda.
The talk here summarises the story and illustrates their passion to bring change.
Reflection
Having watched the video here are some starter questions for you to consider. They may lead you to consider some more of your own!
- Were you aware of this campaign prior to watching the video?
- How is the campaign impacting your local practice? If not, what is stopping it?
- Did knowledge of this change your practice at the time? Will it change your practice now? If not, why is this?
- How did the COVID pandemic change care of black women locally?
- Following the video, how do you feel about the process of changing practice? Is this your own experience? How can this be improved?
- Is there anything you would like to change?
We would be interested to read your stories! Tell us more in the comment below.