The Action Research Podcast · University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work

Elevating Black Women's Perspectives on Perinatal Health Disparities

·25 min·2 clips

Discover how the HEAR Lab amplifies anti-racist research to fuel social change beyond academic articles.

This episode of The Action Research Podcast features Dr. Chinyere Egege, a licensed clinical social worker and professor at the University of Houston. Dr. Egege's research focuses on perinatal mental health care for Black women using qualitative methods. The HearLab team hosts this podcast to amplify anti-racist, community-centered research that connects scholarship to practice and policy. Dr. Egege's dissertation examined the perinatal mental health experiences of Black women in Houston, Texas. Her research was inspired by the need to advocate for and inform better care practices for this population. She specifically investigated how Black women navigate mental health care systems during pregnancy and postpartum. The study centered the personal narratives and perspectives of Black women themselves. Dr. Egege utilized community-based participatory research principles to ensure the work was collaborative. Her methodology aimed to move beyond traditional academic articles to create direct social impact. The research sought to identify systemic barriers and inform policy changes. A key insight is that standard perinatal mental health screening tools often fail to capture Black women's unique experiences. Dr. Egege argues that research must actively dismantle racist structures within healthcare systems rather than just documenting disparities. She emphasizes that authentic partnership with the community is essential for developing effective interventions. The study highlights the strength and resilience of Black women while critiquing systems that overlook their needs. Dr. Egege's work demonstrates how academic research can be a direct tool for advocacy and social change. She connects individual mental health experiences to broader issues of social justice and equity. The conversation is educational and conversational, with a clear focus on applied, socially engaged scholarship. The tone is professional yet passionate, emphasizing the real-world implications of research. This episode is ideal for social work students, public health researchers, and anyone interested in maternal health equity or anti-racist research methodologies. Listeners seeking purely theoretical discussions or quantitative data might find it less aligned with their interests.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Action Research Podcast