Does pregnancy from african american standpoint have a special meaning in the culture?

Pregnancy is a special time in the life of most women, and it is no different for African American women. However, there is limited research on how African American women prepare for childbirth. From the perceptions of 12 African American maternity health-care providers, this study elicited perceptions of the ways in which pregnant African American women prepare for childbirth. Four themes emerged: connecting with nurturers, traversing an unresponsive system, the need to be strong, and childbirth classes not a priority.

It is important to note that African American women hold a unique place in American society. They are often made to feel marginalized, stigmatized, and stereotyped because of racism practiced against them. The literature is replete with abysmal, adverse healthcare outcomes for pregnant African American women and their newborns. The statistical divides between Caucasian and African American represent marked differences in life experiences, which merit renewed interest.

It is believed that witches and evil spirits are capable of stealing the pregnancy or interfering with it in some African cultures. Therefore, many families will perform different rituals to safeguard the pregnancy. Pregnancy is acknowledged but not celebrated.

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