Facing inequities in maternal health care, Black mothers are more at risk to receive lower quality care

For Black women, one of the biggest issues is finding their voice when confronting health issues.

by Paul Arco
OSF Healthcare

As a practicing OB/GYN, Lisa Davis, MD, sees the maternal health challenges Black women deal with every day.

Lisa Davis, M.D.
OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical

“Some of the issues that face black women when it comes to maternal health are issues with blood pressure,” says Dr. Davis, chief medical officer for OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. “So what we would call preeclampsia, a risk of preterm birth, which can result in low birth weight of the infant, postpartum hemorrhage, or hemorrhage that occurs right after delivery or during the latter stages of delivery.”

And it can lead to even more serious consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pregnancy-related death rate for Black women is three times the rate for mothers of other racial and ethnic groups.

Nationally, April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week, a time to raise awareness and take action to improve the health of Black mothers.

Dr. Davis says for Black women, one of the biggest issues is finding their voice when confronting health issues, which include disparities such as getting quality healthcare, dealing with underlying chronic conditions and social drivers such as income, housing, transportation or child care.

Dr. Davis stresses to her patients the importance of making their own health a high priority.

“I think for black women in the maternal health space, it's being heard and too often, there is a misperception that sometimes is out there regarding their response to pain, their use of drugs and things that are all misconceptions,” she says. “That is a big challenge for us, and that includes me, to overcome. It doesn't matter what level of education or where you live. The research has shown that it is still an issue.”

Dr. Davis adds that the medical community can do better when it comes to listening and responding to their patients’ needs. “Every patient is special and different for us to slow down and really look at that person as the person, and understand and listen,” she says. “Sometimes patients, if they're not comfortable, won't disclose what's going on in the first few minutes, but as you get ready to leave, then you might start to get the real back story. And so, it's important for us to slow down and be in the moment.”

Another need is for more Black providers, according to Dr. Davis. She says studies have shown that Black patients tend to relate to someone their own color. “It's very important, I think, for that message to be out there and to encourage young people to look at health care as an option, especially young people of color, because in the future, that's what we're going to need.”

But there are things patients can do for themselves. Dr. Davis stresses to her patients the importance of making their own health a high priority. That includes maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough rest and exercise and attending prenatal appointments.

“If you're not at your best, how can you be good for anyone else?” she asks. “I think what moms suffer from is everyone's important, but sometimes they need to take that step back and focus on themselves, so they can be 100% for their kids, for their spouse, for their parents, for their siblings.”

More articles:

Lost for Words? Using the wrong words could be an indicator of Alzheimer’s onset

There are many lifestyle choices that hurt our cognitive reserve, or brain health. Most Alzheimer's dementia cases normally start showing up in people's 60s and 70s.

by Matt Sheehan
OSF Healthcare

PEORIA - The number of those with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to double in the next 35 years. New research is showing there may be a new key to catching the disease early: language.

Deepak Nair, M.D.

The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association published its findings in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, stating speech patterns could indicate who is more at-risk for Alzheimer’s disease down the line.

Deepak Nair, MD, the vice president of the Neuroscience Service Line for OSF HealthCare, says there are things we can be looking out for, both in ourselves and our loved ones.

"Most of the time that people recognize that early cognitive impairment, the technical term is 'mild cognitive impairment,' is happening because we notice, either in ourselves or our loved one’s memory seems to be a problem," Dr. Nair says. "Difficulties finding common words. Especially to describe things we would manage every day. If you notice in yourself or your loved ones the loss of common words, you're really struggling to think of something really common."

Signs to look out for

Most Alzheimer's dementia cases normally start showing up in people's 60s and 70s. But have risk factors and lifestyle choices been hurting your vascular and brain health for years before that? That's the worry, Dr. Nair says.

Most dementias progress very slowly, Dr. Nair says. So, this could make it difficult to catch something day to day in a loved one. Think back to a year ago and think through how they were functioning then.

When talking with families, does the person have to hand off responsibilities like financial accounts? Did they shrink how far they will drive? Who manages the household? These are all questions to consider if you have concerns about a loved one’s brain health.

Paraphasic errors

Dr. Nair says paraphasic errors, or when someone means to say one thing but says another, could be an early sign of a major cognitive disorder.

"You might mean to say the word 'clock.' But you substitute it with something that rhymes like 'tock' or 'lock.' Or something that means the same thing, like watch," Dr. Nair says. "You have an intention to refer to a specific word, but you can't find that right word, so you substitute something that's similar."

Less speech overall is also a possible early sign of Alzheimer’s.

Masking symptoms with schedules

"When people experience impairments, it's very common that they're already building in regular habits and routines to mask their impairments," Dr. Nair says. "It's things like that we pay attention to."

Physical exercise and social connection

"Physical exercise, both aerobic and anaerobic, have the highest correlation with better cognitive function in later life," Dr. Nair says. "So, we try to promote that as much as we can. Mental activity, specifically social connection and activity, seems to also play a major role."

On the flip side, there are many lifestyle choices that hurt our cognitive reserve, or brain health, Dr. Nair says. Excessive alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes are common cardiovascular risk factors. Not only that, but as we get older, socialization normally decreases.

Alzheimer’s is the most common of the dementias. “Dementia” is no longer the actual diagnostic term neurologists are using, Dr. Nair says. Dementia is defined as a clinical syndrome where patients experience impairments in at least two different cognitive domains, enough to hurt their ability to do everyday tasks (balancing your checkbook, driving a car, cooking, etc.).

Memory is one cognitive domain. Language is another. Dr. Nair says the brain has special centers and pathways that help our ability to communicate. They take time to develop, which is why it takes a while for babies to start talking.

The second most common form of dementia is vascular dementia. The better we do at maintaining overall vascular health, the less likely it is that you'll have vascular disease of the brain, which leads to later cognitive impairment.

For loved ones, Dr. Nair says you're not alone. Communicate with your care team, and they can get you connected with the right resources.

In Review |
Ponman is more than just a movie

What truly makes this film stand out is its core message. Simple in its narrative yet profoundly impactful in its message.

by Rashmi Rekha Das

Recently, I watched a Malayalam movie on JioCinema (Hotstar), and it truly left a lasting impression on me. As a die-hard fan of Malayalam cinema, I rarely miss films that resonate with my taste—and last Friday’s watch, Ponman, was a gem. Simple in its narrative yet profoundly impactful in its message.

Directed by debutant Jotish Shankar and starring the ever-talented Basil Joseph, Ponman is set in a quiet coastal town in Kollam. The story begins with Bruno (Anand Manmadhan) and his mother, who are eager to arrange a marriage for his sister, Steffi (Lijomol Jose). But in Kerala’s dowry-driven society, their hopes clash with harsh realities. Steffi’s marriage is fixed with Mariyano, a prawn farmer from the remote island of Thalavettichira, whose family demands 25 sovereigns of gold as dowry.

The story takes an emotional turn when Ajesh, prepared to leave empty-handed, finds Steffi waiting alone at the church.

Due to Bruno’s troubled past, the family has no savings and no social support. The church denies them financial help, and Bruno is expelled from his political party. Enter PP Ajesh (Basil Joseph), a man with a unique business: he lends gold to brides' families in exchange for repayment after the wedding, using the cash gifts they receive. But when Steffi’s family fails to return either the gold or its value, Ajesh is left in a bind.

Determined to recover what he’s owed, Ajesh travels to Thalavettichira, posing as Steffi’s cousin. He soon realizes the real challenge: Mariyano’s family tightly guards the gold, intending to use it to settle their own dowry debts and save for their younger daughter’s future wedding. As tensions escalate, Mariyano uncovers Ajesh’s true identity, leading to a fierce confrontation. Steffi is forced to reveal everything.

The story takes an emotional turn when Ajesh, prepared to leave empty-handed, finds Steffi waiting alone at the church. She reveals she can’t return to Mariyano’s abusive household. In a quiet yet powerful moment, Ajesh offers her an escape. As they sail away together, he tells her, “You don’t need gold. You are valuable even without it.”

What follows is a poignant journey—Ajesh navigating survival, integrity, and deeply ingrained societal pressures. The film beautifully portrays his struggles, his humanity, and the quiet yet moving bond that develops between him and Steffi.

With an IMDb rating of 7.4/10 and a glowing 4.5/5 from The Times of India, Ponman is receiving well-deserved praise. Basil Joseph, Sajin Gopu, and Lijomol Jose deliver remarkable performances, each bringing authenticity and emotional depth to their roles. For his debut, Jotish Shankar has truly delivered—his storytelling is grounded, sensitive, and visually compelling.

But what truly sets Ponman apart is its core message. The film bravely sheds light on the harsh reality of dowry—particularly the tradition of gifting gold—and how it continues to burden lower-middle-class families. It’s a topic we seldom address, yet Ponman tackles it with sincerity and grace.

This is more than just a movie; it’s a mirror to society. A must-watch for anyone who appreciates meaningful cinema that dares to speak the truth.

Illinois House passes three bills, including measure to limit landlord fees

There was heated debate when lawmakers took up House Bill 3527 involving school mascots. Bill would prohibit schools from using a name, logo, or mascot that is derogatory or representative of a disabled individual or group.

Empty apartment — The Illinois House passed HB3564, which prohibits landlords from charge fees for the processing, reviewing, or accepting of an application, or demand any other payment, fee, or charge before or at the beginning of the tenancy. Landlords may not call the fee or charges something else to avoid application of these provisions. It also limits fees the total amount that can be collected for late fees.

By Kevin Bessler .::. Staff Reporter
The Center Square

SPRINGFIELD - It was a busy day for the Illinois House of Representatives Tuesday with a slew of bills passing through the chamber.

One measure, House Bill 3564, prohibits a landlord from imposing a move-in fee for renters. It also limits fees for the late payment of rent to a one-time $15 fee for every $1,500 of rent. Democratic state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, said that amount is pointless.

“As a landlord, I’m going to tell you that $15 is not punitive enough to force anyone to pay their rent on time,” said Mayfield. “We have a lot of problems with individuals who don’t want to pay their rent and having the ability to charge a daily late fee actually spurs them to pay their rent.”

The measure passed by a vote of 61-43 and is headed to the Senate for consideration.

There was heated debate when lawmakers took up House Bill 3527 involving school mascots. State Rep. Maurice West’s bill would prohibit schools from using a name, logo, or mascot that is derogatory or representative of a disabled individual or group.

“This is something that is exploiting a community and if there is an inkling of injustice somewhere, there’s a threat to justice everywhere,” said West, D-Rockford.

The particular school that drew West’s ire is Freeburg High School and their mascot the “Midgets”, a community several hundred miles from his district. The school is located in state Rep. Kevin Schmidt’s district, who said the community is proud of the mascot.

“It’s going to blow up,” said Schmidt, R-Millstadt. “It’s not going to have the effect that you want. This is a local issue, the local school board should be voting on it, not the state overreaching.”

The measure passed 71-38 and if passed by the Senate, the law would require schools to adopt a new mascot by Sept. 1st, 2028.

The House also approved the Illinois Sexual Assault Survivor Treatment Act in House Bill 2805 sponsored by House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, which prohibits insurance co-pays for sexual assault exams. The measure now heads to the Senate.

Commentary |
“Hands Off” rallies across the nation were patriotism in action

We saw fellow Americans join in support to defend what’s best about our country at these rallies.

by Peter Montgomery
OtherWords

Millions of Americans in more than 1,200 cities and towns gathered with friends and neighbors on April 5 in a beautiful, energetic, nonviolent, and urgently needed expression of patriotism.

The Hands Off! protest drew well over 1,000 residents to the Champaign, IL, rally at Westside Park on April 5.

We used our freedom of speech to send urgent messages to our political leaders: Respect the rule of law and constitutional checks and balances. And stop sacrificing Americans’ well-being by gutting the government’s ability to protect workers, consumers, communities, and the environment.

The gatherings were also a call to our fellow Americans to defend what’s best about our country, and to resist the destructive policies of President Donald Trump and his chainsaw-wielding billionaire buddy Elon Musk.

In our politically divided times, we often think simplistically about “red” and “blue” states. We talk as if our differences mean we don’t have anything important in common. It’s not true. People turned out from Alabama to Alaska, Tennessee to Texas, and Missouri to Montana.

Liberals and conservatives and everyone in between can find common ground in the idea that the Constitution should protect all of us. That we all benefit from clean air and water, scientific research, and basic public health capabilities.

Whatever our political leanings, we should fear and resist the idea that the government can rob people of their rights and freedom and make them disappear into foreign prisons without any way to prove their innocence. We should fear and resist government purging history from websites, books from libraries, and ideas that break with “official” ideology from museums and classrooms.

Many people have been dismayed to see powerful institutions like law firms, universities, and media companies give in to bullying from the president. We get discouraged by repeated failures of courage from elected officials who have sworn to uphold the Constitution.

But despair doesn’t get us anywhere. Action does. That’s why the April 5 gatherings were so important. People braved wind and rain, overcame their own hesitations and fears, and expressed their concerns and hopes for our future on creative, angry, funny, and inspiring signs.

Being together was a reminder that there is power in numbers. Courage can be contagious. Momentum is building.

Protests aren’t the only way Americans are fighting for what they love about this country.

Nonprofit legal groups have filed dozens of legal challenges to defend our rights and stop lawbreaking by the Trump administration. State attorneys general are doing the same. More than 500 law firms have risked retaliation from the president by signing a legal brief opposing the ways he’s abusing power to intimidate and punish lawyers for the work they do.

Senator Cory Booker recently inspired millions of Americans by speaking on the Senate floor for more than 25 hours about the ways people are being hurt by the actions of this administration. “It’s not left or right,” he said, “It’s right or wrong.”

Booker broke a record held by the late Senator Strom Thurmond, who made his place in history by blocking civil rights legislation. So it was appropriate that Booker quoted the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis — who, Booker recalled, “said for us to go out and cause some good trouble, necessary trouble, to redeem the soul of our nation.”

Congratulations to everyone who turned out on April 5 to create “good trouble.” Prepare to do it again and again — and invite family, friends, and neighbors to join.

Defending democracy is not one-and-done. America was founded by people who rejected being subject to the whims of a king. In our time, if we are going to preserve and strengthen government by “we, the people,” we are the people to do it.

Peter Montgomery is a Senior Fellow at People for the American Way. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

"50 States, 1 Movement": 50501 Encourages community action for next protest

Protesters at Champaign's *Hands Off!* rally line University Avenue in Champaign. Over a thousand people were at Westside Park on a chilly April 5 for two hours, joining more than an estimated 1 million protesters nationwide.

URBANA - The 50501 group, using the slogan "50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement," is gearing up for its next event. The grassroots organization that coordinated 1,400 protests worldwide on April 5, is calling for a "Day of Action" on April 19.

While individual chapters/states can organize protests, 50501 said on its website, "We just aren't doing a big national push since many states need more time to plan and coordinate. We need to think a bit more long term and practical."

Activists nationwide had hoped for another rally similar to April 5 from the organization. The group thinks Americans affected by the Trump administration's tariffs and job cuts can be better served Easter weekend by performing acts of kindness and service.

"You don't have to reinvent the wheel, if there's an organization locally that has been doing the good work ... ask how you can help!"

Four things they suggest include:

Donating to a local organization that feeds/clothes/helps local people, especially underserved areas.
Hosting a picnic where everyone brings a few items that are in good condition to swap out for something they might need from someone else.
Doing a clothing drive during a park day or community cookout.
Meeting up at the library to discuss different actions or start a book club.

Guest Commentary |
Tariffs, the goose, the gander and the American dream

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Let’s give the tariffs time to work. I’m as anxious as you are since everything I have is tied to the stock market. If the stock market dies, I will be working or starving the rest of my life. Let’s hope things settle down soon. I believe they will and will grow even bigger.

The tariffs make sense. If China charges us a 25% tariff, then it’s only fair that we charge them one. The same goes for Canada, Mexico, Vietnam and all the others. If they want to charge us 40% then it’s only fair that we charge them the same. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Higher prices will come for a while. Car dealerships have seen a lot more people trying to make their deals before all the tariffs are tacked onto the prices.

People are worried about buying cheap stuff from China at Walmart or any other country. I honestly don’t want stuff from China. If China never ships another thing here it wouldn’t bother me. Sadly, everything I own today is, in some way, likely tied to a foreign country.

When I was a kid, I had a transistor radio made in Hong Kong. I thought it was funny to have such an item made from so far away. Throughout the years it became the norm. Cars, televisions, furniture, appliances and steel started coming from other places. Sadly, our American manufacturers were moving to Mexico, or any country on the planet where they could find slave labor. This turned into big profit for them because they shipped the goods cheaply back to the United States and made big profits.

We need jobs to come back to America.

The problem was that those jobs were forever lost in America. The American workers had to go out and find jobs at Walmart and Starbucks making $10 an hour which today is more like $15 to $18. They had been used to making $35 or $40 an hour before their job moved out of America.

People are crying today about what might happen to the prices at Walmart. Unfortunately, that’s all Americans can afford today is Walmart. Americans are so poor that we have to rely on Dollar General Store or Walmart.

Back in the fifties, sixties and even seventies people could go to one of the big cities in their state and find a good paying manufacturing job. There were lots of jobs. We made a lot of cars, televisions, radios, clothes, furniture, steel, lumber, and had coal mining and much more. These people made enough money to buy a house, buy two cars, buy food, raise their kids and have a real retirement after working 30 years. That was called the American dream.

Today the American dream is applying for disabled Social Security and then praying that you can afford to go to Walmart. Don’t even think about buying a new car, a new house or taking a vacation because on today’s income it is not going to happen.

Let’s try to keep breathing and see how these tariffs play out. We need jobs to come back to America. We need our own companies to come home. We need to buy our own American steel and make things here once again. If other countries will come to America and build their products here and hire our people that will be a good thing.

Just maybe, in a few years, once again, people in America will dream again.

About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

This might also interest you:

Black residents in Illinois are eight times more likely to be homeless

The state has earmarked $290 million for homeless services this year but advocates are asking for an additional $100 million for emergency housing, assistance and prevention programs.

Photo: Jon Tyson/Unsplash

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

CHICAGO - Black residents in Illinois are almost eight times more likely to be homeless than white people, with lack of livable wages and affordable housing among the primary drivers.

Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago said homelessness is an issue of equity with Blacks disproportionately represented across the state. Rent burdens and economic hardship are both driving factors. In 2022, about 63% of Black renters spent more than 30% of their paycheck on housing.

One in four Black residents is living in poverty in Illinois and one in seven is in deep poverty.

Chama St. Louis, director of organizing and network expansion at the National Black Worker Center, experienced homelessness in the winter of 2011. Even though she was working full-time, she said she could not afford to pay for housing and basic needs for her and her family.

"I felt like I was doing everything right," St. Louis recounted. "You can do everything right and still end up in a place where you don't have a home, because the system is failing us."

One in four Black residents is living in poverty in Illinois and one in seven is in deep poverty. St. Louis argued the Trump administration's dismantling of DEI efforts will only further compound matters.

The state has increased investment in programs such as Home Illinois to address the significant rise in homelessness. St. Louis pointed out even though she registered her and her family as homeless, many programs required her to travel based on the availability at shelters on any given day.

"When we had no gas, then we were sleeping in Walmart parking lots," St. Louis explained. "And on days it was really cold, I would take the kids inside of Walmart and make pallets for them at the bottom of a cart and push them around Walmart for seven hours until the sun came up."

St. Louis added she is now dedicated to helping others who experience homelessness. Along with advocating for improved conditions and wages for Black workers, she stressed she tries to humanize the crisis.

"Outside of the real work that we have to do around policy and making sure that people from a systemic standpoint are being treated fairly, we still have to make sure that we are human beings who care about one another and want to see each other do well," St. Louis emphasized.

The state has earmarked $290 million for homeless services this year but advocates are asking for an additional $100 million for emergency housing, assistance and prevention programs.

Other interesting articles:

Letter to the Editor |
Illinois bill HB2827 is anti-family

Dear Editor,

Another unnecessary anti-family bill is advancing in Springfield. The Homeschool Act (HB 2827) will impose fines and jail time on parents who don’t file a “Homeschool Declaration Form.” In other words, those that don’t register with their local district and provide their curriculum for the school to review will be punished, fined, and even serve jail time.

Many parents choose to homeschool in response to the mandates being passed into law in Springfield. For example: since 2019, students are now required to be proficient in LGBT history. In 2021, they passed a law that required sex ed be taught starting in kindergarten. Five-year-olds are taught to define what lesbians, homosexuals, and transgenders are, while the curriculum gradually gets more graphic in older grades. It’s some of the most sexually explicit material in the nation, supplied by Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion and sex-ed curriculum provider. Such curriculum is an invitation to early sexual activity.

Moreover, this bill allows a truancy officer to interview a child without a parent present for the purpose of launching an investigation.

The bill redefines homeschooling to a single family and prohibits 2 or more households from receiving instruction under a cooperative agreement.

One seriously flawed reason for this bill is to protect children from homeschooling parents “who don’t do it the right way.” As if the state does it better!

On average, homeschooled students score 15 to 25 percentile points above their public school counterparts on standardized tests. Black homeschooled students test scores are even higher - 23 to 42 percentile points higher than Black public school students!

The Illinois Report Card is the state’s official window into how students are testing in math, English Language Arts and Science. The 2024 numbers are nothing but shocking, as they have been for many years.

Only 31.1 percent of high school seniors met or exceeded proficiency in ELA while the graduation rate is at 88 percent. If more than two-thirds of students can’t read, why are they passing them to the next grade and then graduating them? Public schools are sending them into the world ill-equipped. The overwhelming majority can’t read! And our tax dollars are funding this ongoing disaster.

Math is even worse. Only 26.1 percent of high school students can do math at high school level.

They need to focus on the glaring problems in Illinois public schools and not the families who sacrifice to equip their children to become well-educated productive citizens.

I say, “Get them out of public schools and start homeschooling!” Homeschooled children are not the problem. They are the solution!

Urge your state lawmakers to reject HB 2827.

Kathy Valente, Director of Operations
Illinois Family Institute

Got something you want to get off your chest? Send us your letter to the editor today. Here is how: Read this.

Related articles:

Facing inequities in maternal health care, Black mothers are more at risk to receive lower quality care

Lost for Words? Using the wrong words could be an indicator of Alzheimer’s onset

In Review |
Ponman is more than just a movie

Illinois House passes three bills, including measure to limit landlord fees

Commentary |
“Hands Off” rallies across the nation were patriotism in action

"50 States, 1 Movement": 50501 Encourages community action for next protest

Guest Commentary |
Tariffs, the goose, the gander and the American dream

Black residents in Illinois are eight times more likely to be homeless

Letter to the Editor |
Illinois bill HB2827 is anti-family

More Sentinel Stories

On This Day

Photo Galleries

Varsity Snapshot

Top stories this year