Mother's Day

As we celebrate Mother's Day, we are reminded that May is also Women's Health month. The Brooklyn Health Equity Foundation, (BHE) celebrates all Brooklyn women and wishes everyone the best of health. In recognition of women’s health issues, (BHE) would like to highlight our most recent grantee, Interfaith Hospital which operates under the auspices of One Brooklyn Health Inc. In February 2023, the BHE Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to the Bishop Orris J Walker, Jr. Family Health Center at Interfaith Medical Center to fund the clinic’s free contraceptive care program for underserved women and girls. In light of recent legislative developments limiting access to reproductive health care, this program will significantly increase access to reproductive and primary care to women and girls in central Brooklyn. With the goal of offering the best individualized care, the program provides direct services as well as counseling to women regarding their various options. Better access to reproductive health has also been shown to improve maternal and birth outcomes.

The most recent data from the New York State department of Health shows Brooklyn averaging higher rates of late or no prenatal care and the highest number of cases of maternal mortality death.

• At 33%, Brooklyn had the highest number of cases of the 5 boroughs but ranked second to the Bronx in the percentage of maternal mortality. In 2017, Brooklyn had the highest rate at 28 per 100,000. Maternal mortality rates are highest among black women throughout the five boroughs.

• City-wide, 6% of pregnant women received late or no prenatal care. Brooklyn averaged higher rates than the five-borough average. The neighborhoods with the highest rates were Brownsville at 11.3%, Coney Island at 9.2%, Canarsie and Bushwick both at 8.8 %, East New York at 8.2% and Crown Heights at 7.3 %.

• With regard to infant mortality, the rate in Brooklyn was highest among immigrant women, especially mothers born in Haiti. They experienced 7.6 % infant deaths per 1000 live births.

As Family Planning Services is often the first entry into the health care system for many women, the clinic will also have access and referrals to other services such a yearly medical check-up, mammograms and pap smears.

In recognition of Women’s Health month, BHEs encourage all women to take these six simple steps:

1. Get your yearly checkup if you have not done so already. Know your numbers for cholesterol level, blood sugar, and blood pressure.

2. Get a mammogram if you are due. The American Cancer Society recommends that women between the ages of 45 -54 should get an annual mammogram. For more information, please contact the American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org

3. Monitor your heart health. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. Know your risk factors and those you can control like high blood pressure and diet. For more information, please contact http://www.goredforwomen.org and http://www.heart.org

4. Get some exercise. The Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Walking is an easy way to start, and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park has many great walking and bike trails. You can get more information at http://www.prospectpark.org. Also get more information about exercise options at http://www.cdc.gov

5. Watch your diet and eat nutritious fruits and vegetables when available. Brooklyn has many farmers markets. For a listing of farmers markets in your neighborhood, please contact www.grownyc.org

6. Control your stress level and pay attention to your mental health. That is easier said than done but there are many free or low-cost opportunities in the community for stress reduction. If you or your family are in need of mental health services, you can contact https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/ and http://www.nami.org

We wish you continued good health!

The Board and staff of BHE Foundation.