Women's Physical Health Research Articles

Motherhood Health Penalty: Impact of Fertility on Physical and Mental Health of Chinese Women of Childbearing Age.

BackgroundThe negative consequences of childbearing on mothers are called the motherhood penalty, and it manifests in the aspects of women's physical and mental health. In May 2021, China relaxed its birth policy that allowed a married couple to have three children. It gives women the opportunity to have more children, but also may increase more risks to mothers' physical and mental health.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to clarify the relationships between the fertility and the physical/mental health of women of childbearing age and empirically confirm the existence of the motherhood health penalty in China.Materials and MethodsUsing a nationally representative dataset from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2018, we examined the effects of fertility on the physical and mental health of Chinese women of childbearing age. Physical health was self-rated, and mental health was assessed according to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. The instrumental variable approach and the models of inverse probability of treatment weighting of propensity scores and regression adjustment were employed to overcome the endogeneity between fertility and health of women.ResultsThe empirical results showed that the total number of births had significant adverse impacts on the physical and mental health of women of childbearing age, which empirically demonstrated the existence of the motherhood health penalty in China. The results of heterogeneity analysis indicated that the physical and mental health of the rural women was more easily affected by childbearing compared with that of the urban samples. In a mechanism analysis, the pathways of income and the multiple roles played by mothers were found to mediate the impacts of the total number of births on the physical and mental health of women. The robustness checks showed that the results of this study were robust.ConclusionsThe findings of this study extend the motherhood penalty to the health domain, and they have important implications for improving healthcare policy for women of childbearing age in China and other countries and regions and promoting gender equality in the healthcare field.

Breast cancer and sexual dysfunction: Does surgery matter?

ABSTRACT Introduction It is well known that breast cancer and its associated treatments have negative effects on women's physical, emotional, and overall sexual health. Studies have shown that the incidence of sexual dysfunction is significantly higher after the diagnosis and associated treatments of breast cancer. For surgical procedures, there is evidence of an increase in sexual problems 6 months after surgery. . Objective The aim of this review is to examine the available research on the impact of breast cancer surgery on women's sexuality. Methods A comprehensive search of Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to find Englishlanguage articles published since January 2000. We used a list of keywords combining "breast cancer" AND "surgery" AND "sexual function" AND "sexual dysfunction". Results We found 1947 results, and after selecting quantitative and original articles on the effects of breast cancer surgery on female sexuality, there were 14 eligible articles. Three articles from other sources were included. Studies comparing the sexuality of the general population with that of women who had undergone breast cancer surgery found a higher risk of sexual dysfunction in these women. When comparing different types of surgery, namely mastectomy with or without reconstruction and breast-conserving surgery, different results were obtained. Four studies found no differences in sexual function between the different types of surgery. Mastectomy without reconstruction was associated with a negative impact on sexual function in four other studies, with all sexual domains affected in some of these studies. In contrast, two studies found lower scores in women who had undergone breast-conserving surgery. Axillary lymph node removal has also been associated with genital arousal disorder. Two studies found no association between sexuality and breast cancer surgery. Conclusions Breast cancer and related treatments, including surgery, have a negative impact on women's sexuality. Different types of surgery appear to have different effects, with mastectomy without reconstruction associated with worse outcomes, while breast-conserving surgery was associated with lower sexual function scores in only two studies. All of these studies relied on different methods and populations with different expectations, which may explain some of the disparity in outcomes. By pointing out the surgical consequences of mastectomy preoperatively, surgeons can make patients' expectations of esthetic and functional outcomes after breast cancer surgery more realistic and help patients make better treatment decisions. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

Secure Complaint Management System against Women Harassment at Workplace Using Blockchain Technology

Since the Industrial era, women are playing a significant role in the workforce to move the world forward. Their increasing contribution in various fields has earned a fortune for the global economy. Despite that, women constantly face more obstacles than men in the workplace. When half of the population are mistreated because of gender inequality, the economy of any nation is supposed to collapse. One of the biggest barriers for women in their careers is workplace harassment. Workplace harassment may include physical, verbal or nonverbal harassment that not only have an adverse effect on a woman's career, mental health and physical health but also organizational reputation. A common way to make a complaint in most organizations is to fill up a complaint form, email or go directly to the competent authority and complain. But victims often hesitate to complain because their identity might get revealed or their documentary evidence might be tampered. As a result, most of the harassers get through very easily. To resolve this problem, this paper presents a blockchain-based anonymous, transparent and secure platform where women can easily complain against their harassers. To keep the platform secure and reliable, a two-level hierarchical model is introduced, where level-1 is the Human Resources (HR) and level-2 is the Higher Authority. In level-1, victims can anonymously complain to HR and in Level-2, victims can complain with their identity revealed to higher authority. This way, the proposed platform ensures women of a healthy work environment and provides all necessary support to stand up against injustice in the workplace.

A better but persistently low health status in women with fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional data analysis

Multiple overlapping and complementary theoretical arguments suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic could worsen health in fibromyalgia. The aim of this study was to determine mental and physical health in women with fibromyalgia before and during the pandemic. In a 3-sample, repeated cross-sectional design, we analyzed questionnaire data from Dutch women with fibromyalgia, collected in three independent samples: before the COVID-19 pandemic (2018; n = 142) and during the first acute (2020; n = 304) and prolonged (2021; n = 95) phases of the pandemic. Eight dimensions of mental and physical health were assessed using The RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (RAND SF-36). Compared to norm group data, both before and during the pandemic, women with fibromyalgia showed high levels of fatigue and pain and low levels of general health, social functioning, physical functioning, role physical functioning (d > 1.2, very large effect sizes), role emotional functioning, and mental health (0.71 < d < 1.2, medium to large effect sizes). Contrary to theoretical expectation, levels at five health variables before vs. during the pandemic did not differ (p > 0.05), and levels of pain (p < 0.001), role physical functioning (p < 0.001), and physical functioning (p = 0.03) (0.014 ≤ pη2 ≤ 0.042, small effect sizes) reflected a healthier status during than before the pandemic. These findings indicate a somewhat better but persistently low health status in women with fibromyalgia during the pandemic. This suggests that the pandemic may include changed circumstances that are favorable for some women with fibromyalgia.

ПРИЧИНЫ И ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ НАСИЛИЯ В ОТНОШЕНИИ ЖЕНЩИН

The topicality of the presented research is that violence against women is now recognized as a public health problem. It should be underlined that violence against women is an important health risk factor, with serious consequences for woman's physical and mental health. Physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse can have an extremely negative impact on the quality of life, and the trauma can affect a woman's attitude towards herself and others. What's more, women who have experienced abuse or other trauma are known to have a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this regard, identifying the precursors of violence against women is of particular importance for early intervention and effective prevention. The purpose of the article is to identify the causes as well as the possible consequences of violence against women. A wide range of scientific research methods are used to confirm the results. The author comes to the conclusion that the problem of violence against women is a tacit ban and is assessed negatively. It is also concluded that it is necessary to change this trend, since it generates very unfavorable psychological and social consequences for women in future. Directions for improving methodological research in the stated field are formulated.

The long-term effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit on women's physical and mental health.

Using a novel method, and data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), we estimate the cumulative, long-term, causal effect of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) eligibility on women's physical and mental health at age 50. We find that an increase in lifetime eligible EITC benefits is associated with long-term improvements in physical health, such as reduced occurrence of activity-limiting health problems and reduced reported diagnoses of mild and severe diseases. We explore intermediate health behaviors and outcomes, and find that an increase in lifetime eligible EITC benefits increases the number of hours worked and access to employer-sponsored health insurance, and decreases body mass index in the short-term. We find no significant effects of the EITC on mental health at age 50. Finally, we find that White women benefit disproportionately from the EITC in terms of mobility-related health issues, while Black and Hispanic women benefit in terms of lung-related illnesses like asthma, as well as cancer and stroke.

Building and Realizing the Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Management Platform by Computer Information Technology under the Concept of Mindfulness Intervention.

Nursing management of the gynecology department is one of the challenging issues and needed to be resolved through effective utilization of the available technology. In this paper, we are going to address this issue and try to establish an obstetrics and gynecology nursing management platform used to monitor and evaluate the mental health of pregnant women. Firstly, computer information technology is adopted, and the obstetrics and gynecology nursing management system is established. Secondly, after adopting the system to intervene in the mental state of patients with mindfulness, the system timely monitors the pregnant women's physical health indicators and mental health level data. With the help of the computer data analysis system, the obstetrics and gynecology management platform is built to carry out timely mindfulness interventions for pregnant women. The established system can reach high accuracy in identifying negative emotions of pregnant women, and the accuracy can reach 89.7%. It shows that the established system can timely and accurately intervene and regulate the pregnant woman's bad psychological state, effectively improve the pregnant woman's sleep quality during pregnancy, and enhance the pregnant woman's sleep effect. The effectiveness and feasibility of Internet mindfulness interventions for improving sleep quality during pregnancy has been confirmed. This has important practical significance for the digital and intelligent development of the medical care management platform.

Assessment of serum calcium and magnesium levels in subjects with pre-menstrual syndrome

Women's health is one of the main goals of social and economic development of societies; therefore, problems and diseases compromising women's physical and mental health, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), are among health priorities.To estimate and compare the serum levels of calcium and magnesium in subjects with pre-menstrual syndrome and subjects without premenstrual syndrome during pre-and post-menstrual phases.: Healthy women (intern students, hospital staff, non-teaching staff, class 3 and class 4 staff) in the age group of 18-26 years having regular menstrual cycles for the past 6 months were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. PMS was diagnosed based on ACOG criteria. 5 mL of venous blood sample was collected in red stoppered plain tube and used for estimation of serum calcium and magnesium levels during premenstrual phase of menstrual cycle. We found that there was no significant difference in the serum calcium levels between cases and controls, but there was significant difference in serum magnesium levels between the cases and controls.Several factors like culture, socioeconomic status, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, dietary habits, age of menarche etc. have also been implicated. Prolonged stress exposure is believed to lead to persistent malfunctions of neuroendocrine system and cause PMS. Lack of micronutrients and certain hormonal agents and are also implicated in the development of PMS. We strongly recommend Lifestyle modifications which include mind-body approaches, aerobic exercise, and supplementation with vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates. Early nutritional supplementation of with the diet rich in these minerals will be effective as preventive and therapeutic strategy.

Research on DCE-MRI Images Based on Deep Transfer Learning in Breast Cancer Adjuvant Curative Effect Prediction.

Breast cancer is a serious threat to women's physical and mental health. In recent years, its incidence has been on the rise and it has become the top female malignant tumor in China. At present, adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer has become the standard mode of breast cancer treatment, but the response results usually need to be completed after the implementation of adjuvant chemotherapy, and the optimization of the treatment plan and the implementation of breast-conserving therapy need to be based on accurate estimation of the pathological response. Therefore, to predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients is to find a predictive method that is conducive to individualized choice of chemotherapy regimens. This article introduces the research of DCE-MRI images based on deep transfer learning in breast cancer adjuvant curative effect prediction. Deep transfer learning algorithms are used to process images, and then, the features of breast cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy are collected through image feature collection. Predictions are made, and the research results show that the accuracy of the prediction reaches 70%.

Jingfang Granules alleviate LPS-induced mastitis by inhibiting inflammation, protecting the blood-milk barrier structure and regulating cell apoptosis

Mastitis is the most common malignant disease in women, which seriously threatens women's physical and mental health. Jingfang Granules (JF) is a Chinese medicine compound, derived from the classic famous prescription-"Jingfang Baidu Powder". JF has been widely used to relieve symptoms such as fever, headache, and cough caused by a cold. Our previous studies have shown that JF contains various active ingredients (β-sitosterol, isorhamnetin, hesperetin), which has the effect on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic. Previous studies conveyed that JF had the potential to treat metabolic abnormalities and inflammation, which promoted us to investigate its therapeutic effects on LPS-induced mastitis and the underlying mechanisms. The pathologic changes suggested that the mammary gland edema and inflammatory factor infiltration were alleviated by JF in LPS-induced mastitis model. Furthermore, The ELISA assays suggested that the activity of Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were reduced by JF. The protein levels of TLR4, P-NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, P-P38, P-ERK1/2, and P-AKT were detected by western blotting. And then we found that JF alleviated mastitis inflammation by regulating NF-κB, NLRP3, PI3K/AKT, MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, we found that JF improved the integrity of the blood-milk barrier by increasing the expression of ZO-1, Claudin-3 and Occludin. Interestingly, JF could also significantly inhibit LPS-induced apoptosis. In summary, we successfully established a model of LPS-induced mastitis in mice and confirmed that JF could inhibit inflammation, improve the integrity of the blood-milk barrier and inhibit apoptosis, which also indicates the potential applicability of JF for the prevention and treatment of mastitis.

Injectable recombinant human collagen-derived material with high cell adhesion activity limits adverse remodelling and improves pelvic floor function in pelvic floor dysfunction rats

Female pelvic floor dysfunction (FPFD) is a life-changing condition that severely affects women's physical and mental health. Despite the effectiveness of current treatments for FPFD, there is a high rate of short-term recurrence. Here, we introduced an injectable recombinant human collagen (rhCOL)-derived material with high cell adhesion activity to achieve pelvic floor repair and extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly. In our study, rhCOL promoted human uterosacral ligament fibroblast (HULF) adhesion, migration, and collagen I and III expression and regulated the metabolism of HULFs in vitro. Subsequently, we established a rat model of FPFD. Then, rhCOL, including rhCOLI and rhCOLIII, was perivaginally injected into FPFD rats, resulting in a significant increase in abdominal urine leak point pressure (LPP) and maximum tensile strength compared to the FPFD model group. Better organization of the lamina propria and muscularis in FPFD rats was observed after 14 days of rhCOL treatment. Meanwhile, the expression of collagen I, collagen III, and TIMP1 was upregulated, and MMP2 was downregulated. Furthermore, rhCOL promoted HULF adhesion, migration, and ECM synthesis by upregulating the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that the perivaginal injection of rhCOL is a promising treatment for FPFD with potential for future clinical use.

Changes in inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, glucose and lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disease in women, affecting women's menstruation and significantly impacting women's physical and mental health. Studies have shown that insulin resistance has an important relationship with polycystic ovary. It is of great significance to explore the changes of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, glucose and lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance in patients with PCOS. In the study process, 642 polycystic ovary patients in the first half of 2019 were divided into insulin resistance (n=357) and non-insulin resistance (n=285) groups. Oxidative stress index, glucose, and lipid metabolism index, and inflammatory factors were detected during the study process. The results showed that the levels of hs-CRP, TNF- α, and IL-6 in the IR group were 5.9mg/L, 9.2μg/L, and 87.2ng /ml, while those in the non-IR group were 4.6mg/L, 6.3μg/L and 51.5ng/ml, respectively. Thus, IL-6 and insulin levels maintain a dynamic balance. Low levels of IL-6 can promote insulin secretion, while high levels can inhibit its secretion. The results of this study will provide a specific clinical reference value for the prevention and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Factors Associated With 10-Year Declines in Physical Health and Function Among Women During Midlife

Women in midlife often develop chronic conditions and experience declines in physical health and function. Identifying factors associated with declines in physical health and function among these women may allow for targeted interventions. To examine the factors associated with clinically important 10-year declines in the physical component summary score (PCS) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36), a widely used patient-reported outcome measure, in women in midlife. This longitudinal cohort study collected data from geographically dispersed sites in the US. Participants were part of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of women enrolled at or immediately before the menopause transition. Women have been followed for up to 21 years, between 1996 and 2016, with annual visits. Data were analyzed from October 2020 to March 2021. Demographic indicators, health status measures, and laboratory and imaging assessments. The main outcome was a clinically important decline (≥8 points) on the PCS, based on the 10-year difference in scores between ages 55 and 65 years. From the SWAN cohort of 3302 women, 1091 women (median [IQR] age, 54.8 [54.3-55.4] years; 264 [24.2%] Black women; 126 [11.6%] Chinese women; 135 [12.4%] Japanese women; 566 [51.9%] White women) were eligible for analyses based on duration of follow-up and availability of SF-36 data. At age 55, women had a median (IQR) body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 27.0 (23.2-32.6), a median (IQR) baseline PCS of 53.1 (46.8-56.7), 108 women (9.9%) were current smokers, and 938 women (86.3%) had at least 1 comorbidity. Between ages 55 and 65 years, the median (IQR) change in PCS was -1.02 (-6.11 to 2.53) points with 206 women (18.9%) experiencing declines of 8 points or more. In multivariable models, factors associated with clinically important decline included higher baseline PCS (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.11), greater BMI (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09), less educational attainment (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.32-2.65), current smoking (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.14-3.26), osteoarthritis (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.01-2.09), clinically significant depressive symptoms (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.34-3.09), and cardiovascular disease (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.26-3.36). In this cohort study, clinically important declines in women's physical health and function were relatively common between ages 55 and 65 years. Several variables associated with these declines were identified as potentially useful components in a clinical score identifying women at increased risk of physical health and functional declines.

Application and Mechanism of Action of Zuogui Pill in the Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure

The incidence of premature ovarian failure is increasing year by year, which brings serious harm to women's physical and mental health. Western medicine is mostly based on hormone replacement therapy, which may increase the risk factor for vaginal bleeding and endometrial cancer with long-term use. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the treatment of premature ovarian failure is based on kidney tonification and treatment according to the evidence. Zuogui Pill can regulate immune factors and reproductive endocrine function, inhibit rapid apoptosis of granulosa cells, promote angiogenesis, increase local blood supply, thereby improving ovarian function, regulating menstrual status, and alleviating perimenopausal syndrome. However, a standardized and comprehensive treatment system needs to be explored in depth.

Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy in a Tertiary Care Centre of North India during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) had a significant impact on obstetric surgeries. Obstetric surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic affect individuals who are suspected or proven to be high-risk endeavors. Aim: To evaluate the demographic characteristics, indications, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and foetomaternal outcomes in the women who had an Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy (EPH) during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 at a tertiary care centre in North India. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a tertiary care centre in Uttar Pradesh, India, including women who underwent EPH operated from March 2020 to May 2021 in terms of demographic characteristics, indications, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and foetomaternal outcomes. Information about their self-reported health issues due to traumatic birth (when they came for a follow-up visit at five weeks) were also obtained. Simple frequency, percentage, and proportion were calculated using descriptive statistics. Results: A total number of 1827 deliveries were conducted and out them 11 cases underwent emergency peripartum hysterectomy at our institute during the time frame of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the patients were in their 20s or 30s, with ages ranging from 21 to 34. All of these were unplanned pregnancies and arrived at various gestational ages. Eight cases had the previous scarring on the uterus, with six women having morbidly adhered placenta. All of the women in the study cohort were unbooked, and 72.73 % (eight out of 11) of them were referred to our centre because they had high-risk factors. Due to substantial blood loss, five females required Critical Care Unit (CCU) support. The study sample had a poor newborn outcome, with three early neonatal deaths out of 11 deliveries. As a part of their 5th-week followup, after the women had been stabilized and discharged from the ICU, they were asked to share their major issues related to health, psychological status and social interaction. The main worries revolved around the newborn child's and COVID-19 positive husband’s health. Pregnant women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant rate of postpartum depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Conclusion: The predominant cause of EPH in the study population was a morbidly adherent placenta. It is critical to protect women's physical and psychological health during traumatic childbirth in order to mitigate the pandemic's alreadyexisting harmful impacts.

Advances in Clinical Research in Chinese Medicine for Decreased Ovarian Reserve Function

Decreased ovarian reserve function (DOR) is a pre-disease state of premature ovarian failure (POF), the pathogenesis of which is not well understood and the disease is insidious, so early detection and active treatment can save adverse outcomes. In recent years, the incidence of DOR has become younger, which seriously affects women's physical and mental health. In this paper, we analyze the etiology and clinical treatment methods from relevant experimental studies and clinical observations in the past 5 years, in order to provide theoretical support and treatment ideas for female reproductive health.

Pregnancy and commuting on public transport

IntroductionLimited research has explored the influence of commuting on expectant mother's health and well-being and how expectant mothers can be supported during their commute. The present study aimed to identify the impact of commuting during pregnancy on women's physical and mental health. Further, the effectiveness of Transport for London's baby-on-board badge was explored. MethodThis was a mixed-method study. An online survey of 295 participants over the age of 18 years was conducted to explore their views on commuting and the effectiveness of the baby-on-board badge. A subsample of female participants completed the General Health Questionnaire to assess the impact of commuting while pregnant on women's health. This was followed by a qualitative study in which 15 women who currently or previously commuted to work while pregnant participated in a semi-structured interview about their experience. ResultsCommuting was found to represent a major challenge for some women during pregnancy. It was often a source of stress and anxiety and had detrimental effects on women's health and well-being, especially when they had pre-existing medical conditions. Pregnant women often made adjustments to their commute, such as traveling outside peak times. Although the majority of women commuting into London wore the Baby-on-Board badge during pregnancy, its effectiveness at encouraging commuters to offer their seat or give more space to expectant mothers was mixed. Many women felt the badges were ignored or difficult to see during crowded commutes. ConclusionsThere is limited support for pregnant commuters. The main approach to supporting pregnant commuters is the TfL baby-on-board badge, but the effectiveness of this badge is mixed. A multi-agency approach involving transport agencies, employers, midwives and expectant mothers supporting pregnant commuters may result in a less stressful commute experience and improve women's well-being and productivity at work.

COVID-19 and physical health of women with severe mental illness

COVID-19 and physical health of women with severe mental illness

How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting women's menstrual cycles and quality of life? A view from South Asia

SUMMARYThe substantial strain that women are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic can affect their menstrual cycle and further impair their quality of life. In low- and middle-income countries, this strain is exacerbated by: cultural taboos and poor education related to menstruation; ‘period poverty’; unavailability of menstrual hygiene products; and poor hygiene facilities. We suggest actions that governments, healthcare professionals and individuals can take to address these factors and minimise the psychological impact of COVID-19 on women's physical and mental health.

"Black Nurses in the Home is Working": Advocacy, Naming, and Processing Racism to Improve Black Maternal and Infant Health.

1) To explore how racism-related stress impacts Black women's health, pregnancy, and parenting. 2) To explore how a culturally-specific program affects the relationship between racism-related stress and Black women's health, pregnancy, and parenting. This qualitative study uses a Black Feminist approach to center the lived experiences and perspectives of Black women. Focus groups were conducted with clients and staff of a culturally-specific program that provides perinatal care for Black families. A thematic analysis was conducted using a Reproductive Justice framework as a guide. Participants consisted of 23 program clients and staff who all identified as Black women. Four themes emerged from the analysis: 1) The pervasive reach of structural racism, 2) Shared identities facilitate trust and healing, 3) Racism directly impacts mental health, and 4) Advocacy on macro and micro levels is a vital service. Results show the chronicity and toxicity of structural racism on Black women's physical and mental health. The presence of overt and subtle forms of racism occur in multiple systems and require interventions on macro- and micro-levels. Culturally-specific perinatal care programs that prioritize racial concordance between providers and clients/patients are well-received and effective models of care. Black perinatal care should include culturally-specific approaches, advocacy on behalf of and alongside Black people, mental health support with attention to racism-related stress, and interrogation of implicit bias. Multipronged interventions guided by Reproductive Justice principles provide a holistic framework to address interpersonal and systemic racial oppression.