Spelman College is offering a new course focused on maternal and child health through a lens that centers on the Black experience. Dr. Shantesica Gilliam, assistant professor of environmental and health sciences, launched the course, titled Foundations of Maternal and Child Health: Prioritizing the Black Body, this spring.
According to a recent study by Kaiser Family Foundation, Black people are more than three times as likely as their white counterparts to experience a pregnancy-related death. In 2022, Black Americans had the highest infant mortality rate among all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., according to a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. As the top global leader in the education of women of African descent, Spelman continues to maintain its commitment to innovative curriculum and research. Students enrolled in the maternal and child health course will examine “the distinct health challenges Black mothers, children and families face in the U.S.,” according to the syllabus.
“My goal is to build a maternal and child health spirit on-campus, where in historical settings we, Black women, have been criminalized, silenced, neglected and left out of these spaces,” said Dr. Gilliam. “Spelman is a safe haven and space for many young Black women, and it is important to show them that we care not only about their academic goals but also their reproductive rights, bodily autonomy and the choice to be- or not to be a parent while they are here. And one of the first starts is through education.”
The course was created in response to student interest. Last fall, Dr. Gilliam and her student research team held a community dialogue, where they discussed what students would like to see in a maternal and child health course. A survey was also distributed for those who could not attend. With 55 in-person participants ranging in majors from Spanish and computer science to economics and mathematics and 125 survey responses, there was an overwhelming response from students who felt there was a gap in the education when it came to maternal and child health on campus. The students expressed interest in topics like menstrual cycles, women’s bodies pre- and postpartum, doula and lactation certifications and more.
“This course has enabled me to explore more deeply the topics and issues that inspired my aspiration to become an OB/GYN,” said Niyah Bornes, C’2026, a health science major from Houston who worked with Dr. Gilliam to bring the course to life. “As a Spelman student, I believe that through this class I am able to support my fellow Spelman sisters, which ultimately contributes to giving back to my community. When I sit in class and hear my classmates discuss the topics we covered, I feel as though I am fulfilling my goal of helping my Spelman community.”
Many Spelman students, like Bornes, are interested in pursuing maternal and child health research, reproductive advocacy, and medical careers specialized in obstetrics and gynecology after graduation. The course aims to meet this interest and provide educational and professional development opportunities for students with a passion in maternal and child health. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
“Students should feel empowered, seen and heard in the classroom space. As we move towards a 22nd century classroom design, I want to ensure that students have autonomy and agency over their learning experiences,” said Dr. Gilliam. “I want my students to have a sense of ownership and commitment to this work so that they can be advocates for maternal and child health within the college and beyond.”