Rep. Shontel Brown is pushing for greater investment in research and healthcare addressing conditions that disproportionately affect Black women.
During a conversation with the Black Information Network's Vanessa Tyler at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 55th Annual Legislative Conference, the Ohio Democrat discussed Black maternal health, infant mortality and her efforts to expand research and treatment for uterine fibroids.
Brown highlighted persistent health disparities in her hometown of Cleveland, pointing to maternal and infant health outcomes despite the city's access to major healthcare institutions.
Nationwide, Black women continue to face significantly higher maternal mortality rates. In 2024, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 14.2 for white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Brown also discussed uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths that can cause pain, heavy bleeding and reproductive complications. Black women are more likely to develop fibroids, develop them at younger ages and experience more severe symptoms.
To address the disparity, Brown introduced the Uterine Fibroid Intervention and Gynecological Health and Treatment Act, or U-FIGHT Act. The legislation would authorize federal grants for research, early detection and intervention, along with education and awareness programs surrounding uterine fibroids.
The issue is particularly personal for Brown, who has previously spoken publicly about her own experience with fibroids and said more women need access to information, early detection and treatment.
Listen to the full conversation below!
For more of our interviews from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, check out Our Voices!
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