Scripted for Her: Black Maternal Health

Black Maternal Health Week, observed annually from April 11 to 17, serves as an annual reminder that Black birthing people in the US face maternal mortality rates 2 to 15 times higher than their white counterparts—a gap that persists despite a decade of awareness efforts.

In the most recent episode of Scripted for Her, Kami Dixon, MD, MA, from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, made clear that closing this gap requires every member of the care team, including pharmacists.

Cardiovascular disease has overtaken hemorrhage as the leading cause of pregnancy-related death, with conditions like hypertension, preeclampsia, and stroke driving the numbers. Critically, Dixon noted that roughly 65% of maternal mortality occurs in the postpartum period—a window when patients often assume the danger has passed.

This is exactly where pharmacists can intervene. A simple question at the pharmacy counter—“Did you recently have a baby?”— can open conversations about warning signs like headaches, shortness of breath, or abnormal bleeding that might otherwise go unreported. Pharmacists can also flag medication concerns and connect patients to community resources, functioning as a vital link between clinical and community care.

Dixon also emphasized the importance of actually listening when patients do speak up, noting that dismissal by providers contributes directly to poor outcomes. For pharmacists, that means pausing, asking, and following up; not just filling prescriptions.

The bottom line: Your counter may be a patient’s most accessible health care touchpoint—especially for Black patients—so it’s important to use it.

Explore some of the resources mentioned in today’s episode:

• CDC: Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality
• Black Mama Matters Alliance: 2026 Black Maternal Health Week Toolkit
• Scripted for Her Episode 3: Postpartum Care and Mental Health
• Scripted for Her Episode 10: Pharmacist Management of Preeclampsia

Scripted for Her, a podcast from Drug Topics hosted by Natalie DiPietro Mager, PharmD, PhD, MPH, professor of pharmacy practice at Ohio Northern University, aims to help pharmacists provide comprehensive care and continuity of care within the women’s health space. All episodes of Scripted for Her are available in video format via DrugTopics.com on the third Wednesday of each month.Check out our most recent episode, Scripted for Her: HIV Among Women.

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