SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 11, 2026) — CHRISTUS Children’s is recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, observed April 11–17, to bring attention to persistent maternal health disparities and the urgent need to improve outcomes for Black women through awareness, education, and compassionate care.
The annual observance shines a spotlight on inequities that have contributed to significantly higher rates of pregnancy-related complications and deaths among Black women across the United States.
“The importance of highlighting this week is to encourage dialogue, raise awareness and stress the importance of improving health disparities,” said Dr. Lissa M. Melvin, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist with CHRISTUS Children’s. “This is critical because Black women in this country have three times higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes compared to not only white women but to all other women.”
Health experts say these disparities stem from a range of factors, including racial inequities, implicit bias within the health care system, and reduced access to high-quality prenatal care.
“What this does is start the conversation about how we can address the health crisis that’s happening and impacting Black women and their families — and ultimately create actionable change,” Melvin said.
Locally, San Antonio reflects similar trends seen nationwide, according to Melvin, who noted that efforts are underway to better understand and address these gaps in care.
“San Antonio is like other places in the country in that we do see disparities in care,” she said. “I think people realize this and are actually starting to acknowledge the variance in care and trying to come up with solutions to attack those issues.”
At CHRISTUS Children’s, providers are taking a comprehensive approach to maternal health, addressing both medical and social factors that can impact outcomes. Services include treatment for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, maternal mental health care for up to one year after delivery, social work support, nutrition counseling, and a highly trained labor and delivery team.
“We have systems in place that help to improve the overall quality of care,” Melvin said.
As Black Maternal Health Week continues, Melvin emphasized that raising awareness is only the beginning. Building trust between patients and providers remains a critical component of improving care.
“First and foremost — all patients deserve respectful quality care,” she said. “We must approach care differently, with more compassion and better listening. There’s also a need for more training on implicit bias. If you are in a system where you are not being heard, this leads to frustration and a reluctance to seek care.”
She added that acknowledging existing disparities is a key step toward meaningful progress.
To learn more about CHRISTUS Children’s Women’s and Newborn Center and available services, visit their website.