The Preeclampsia Foundation has established a national Racial Disparities Task Force (RDTF) to address the alarming racial inequities in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) among Black women and birthing people in the United States. This initiative, formed in 2020, aims to identify key recommendations for tackling racial disparities related to HDP, which are among the leading causes of maternal mortality in the country.
The RDTF, comprising a diverse group of healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals with lived experiences, has developed strategies centered around the Foundation’s three pillars: Community, Healthcare Practice, and Research. Their recommendations highlight the critical need to amplify the voices of Black women and birthing people in research and healthcare practices.
Key focus areas include optimizing the management of chronic hypertension in pregnancy, promoting the use of low-dose aspirin for preeclampsia prevention, and improving postpartum follow-up care. The task force emphasizes the importance of innovative models for postpartum care, such as home blood pressure monitoring and addressing social determinants of health.
In the research domain, the RDTF calls for increased engagement of Black women and birthing people in HDP studies, support for Black researchers leading this work, and a shift towards precision medicine in HDP management. The task force also stresses the need to develop quality measures that are meaningful to Black women and birthing people.
This comprehensive plan of action represents a significant step towards reducing racial disparities in HDP-related maternal mortality and morbidity. The Preeclampsia Foundation’s initiative underscores the urgent need for multi-sectoral collaboration and community engagement to improve healthcare practices and drive essential research in this critical area of maternal health.
See “Addressing Racial Disparities in the Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Plan for Action from the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Racial Disparities Task Force” (August 26, 2024)
