Pelvic Floor Disorders in Black Women: Prevalence, Clinical Care, and a Strategic Agenda to Prioritize Care

Charelle M Carter-Brooks; Oluwateniola E Brown; Mary F Ackenbom

doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2023.11.002

Pelvic Floor Disorders in Black Women: Prevalence, Clinical Care, and a Strategic Agenda to Prioritize Care

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2024 Mar;51(1):157-179. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2023.11.002. Epub 2023 Dec 2.

Authors

Charelle M Carter-Brooks¹, Oluwateniola E Brown², Mary F Ackenbom³

Affiliations

¹ The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 6A- 416, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 250 East Superior Avenue Suite 05-2113, Chicago, IL 60601, USA.
³ Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 3240 Craft Place, Suite 226, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

PMID: 38267125
PMCID: PMC11093648 (available on 2025-03-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2023.11.002

Abstract

Pelvic floor disorders are a group of common conditions affecting women of all racial and ethnic groups. These disorders are undertreated in all women, but this is especially magnified in Black people who have been historically marginalized in the United States. This article seeks to highlight the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders in Black women, evaluate the clinical care they receive, examine barriers they face to equitable care, and present a strategic agenda to prioritize the care of Black women with pelvic floor disorders.

Keywords: Black women; Health disparities; Health equity; Pelvic floor disorders; Pelvic organ prolapse; Urinary incontinence; Women of color.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Black or African American*
Female
Humans
Pelvic Floor Disorders* / epidemiology
Pelvic Floor Disorders* / therapy
Prevalence

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding