Beyond coercion and malign neglect

Black women and the struggle for birth justice

Authors

  • Akanksha Anand Morgan State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/88r26w23

Keywords:

Reproductive justice, maternal health, health equity, birth justice; , intersectionality

Abstract

This review of Beyond Coercion and Malign Neglect (Oparah, 2023) analyzes how racism and medicalization impose stressors that undermine safe birthing for Black women—highlighting midwifery traditions, critiquing punitive obstetric practices, and advancing community-based strategies. Despite limited attention to policy and immigrant perspectives, this compilation underscores the need for multilevel reforms.

Author Biography

  • Akanksha Anand, Morgan State University

    AKANKSHA ANAND, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Public Health in the School of
    Community Health and Policy at Morgan State University, United States. A public health
    researcher specializing in stress-related health disparities, Dr. Anand investigates how
    individual and organizational stress in high-risk, under-resourced environments
    contributes to poor maternal and cardiovascular health outcomes. Her work focuses on
    advancing digital health equity by designing scalable, evidence-based wellness
    interventions aimed at improving resilience, mental health, and healthcare access across
    diverse communities. Email: akanksha.anand@morgan.edu

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Published

2025-11-29

Issue

2025: American Journal of Medicine and Health Studies

Section

Commentaries and Reports

Categories

License

Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

How to Cite

Beyond coercion and malign neglect: Black women and the struggle for birth justice. (2025). American Journal of Medicine and Health Studies, 63-66. https://doi.org/10.32674/88r26w23