African American Women’s Lived Experiences with Obstetrics/Gynecology Services in Atlanta, Georgia

African American women in Georgia die during the perinatal period at almost three times the rate of other ethnic groups. Adverse maternal outcomes demonstrate a disparity among African American women. In this phenomenological qualitative study, the lived experiences of African American women receiving obstetrical and gynecological (OB/GYN) care in the Atlanta, Georgia, Metropolitan area were explored. The study included women who identified as African American, ages 18 – 45 years old, receiving OB/GYN care in Georgia. No income limits were applied, allowing women across income levels to be included. Feagin’s systemic racism theory, along with Greenwald and Krieger’s implicit bias theory, provided a conceptual framework for data collection and analysis. Participants were recruited using social media ads, postings, and meetings with community organizations. Semi-structured interviews using the Zoom audio platform were conducted with 14 participants. Data was analyzed through the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Results indicated that while some women felt heard by their doctors, who showed concern and provided them with beneficial resources, others experienced the impact of systemic racism and implicit bias. Their experiences reflected racism, multiple stressors, and perceptions of implicit bias from providers. This included financial challenges, not being heard by the provider, and the need for self-advocacy. Study findings may promote social change by informing providers about prenatal and postpartum care service delivery in Georgia and may impact providers throughout the United States, resulting in maternal quality improvement and positive maternal health outcomes.