Delaware

Health disparities persist for Black mothers in Delaware despite improved health care access

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2024

Health disparities persist for Black mothers in Delaware despite improved health care access

Other factors play a role, too. Things like the “environmental factor, the social determinants of health factors, communities where people live,” she added.

The social determinants of health impact both Black maternal health rates and the general public. For instance, a recent study found social conditions influencing health outcomes for residents in Wilmington and Dover, where poverty rates are 24% and 20%, respectively.

Economic instability and neighborhood environments pose challenges to healthy habits for mothers and those who are pregnant, especially given the prevalence of food deserts in these regions. Health outcomes in areas like Wilmington and other parts of Delaware are closely linked to fresh food availability.

Mpasi emphasized that while Wilmington, the state’s largest city, requires support, attention must also be given to other areas in the southern part of Delaware. She highlighted troubling trends in Kent County, where Black infant mortality has risen by about 80%, Hispanic infant mortality has risen by 16% and white infant mortality has decreased by 43%.

Attending as a keynote speaker is Kimberly Seals Allers, who shares Delaware statistics and her experiences related to Black maternal health. (Johnny Perez-Gonzalez/WHYY)

Many women of color, like Mpasi, face challenges in accessing the care they need, particularly when they feel unheard and misunderstood regarding their symptoms and body experiences.

Professionals may perceive their needs differently based on race, adding to these barriers.

“I’ve had that experience myself, trying to seek care and not being heard in terms of listening to my symptoms, and it wasn’t until I mentioned that I was a physician that I saw the care being altered,” she said. “That’s why, again, we can fix some social determinants of health, but that’s where the training part comes in. We have to train our health professionals, our communities.”

Erica Allen is working to address these disparities in her unique way. The mother of four is a licensed practical nurse who serves as the executive director of the Do Care Doulas Foundation. She also had an experience of not being heard by health professionals, which later led to a traumatic event.

During her recent pregnancy, Allen realized that her blood pressure was not normal. Despite seeking treatment, she said she was neglected by her health care providers, which led to the development of pre-eclampsia.

“I noticed that my blood pressure was trending on the higher side, I spoke up… I was told everything was okay. Weeks passed [and] they actually had scheduled me for 38 weeks to be induced,” she said. “I didn’t even make it to 38 weeks, by that time I ended up having pre-eclampsia, which I was alluding to and going to the hospital to let them know, ‘Hey, like, this is where it’s headed,’ and I was not heard.”

After being induced due to pre-eclampsia, Allen had a traumatic delivery experience and hemorrhage. Inspired by her own story and the experiences of many others, she decided to open her own organization to help mothers like her find doulas who can advocate for them before, during and after birth.

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Delaware

Delaware ranks 11th nationally for arts vibrancy, fueled by public investment

Published

2 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

Delaware ranks 11th nationally for arts vibrancy, fueled by public investment

What are journalists missing from the state of Delaware? What would you most like WHYY News to cover? Let us know.

Delaware is once again earning national recognition for the strength of its arts community.

A new report from Southern Methodist University DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, ranks Delaware No. 11 in the nation for arts vibrancy, while Wilmington placed 57th among the country’s 100 most arts-vibrant communities. The 10th annual Arts Vibrancy Index analyzed all 50 states and more than 900 communities using data on arts activity, audience participation and government support.

The recognition highlights Delaware’s long-standing investment in arts organizations and artists, as well as the role local audiences play in supporting cultural institutions across the state.

“That Delaware ranks eleventh in the nation for arts vibrancy reflects what sustained public investment in the arts can produce,” said Jessica Ball, director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “Through annual appropriations …, Delaware has built a cultural infrastructure of national consequence.”

Wilmington’s recognition emphasizes the city’s concentration of arts organizations from established institutions like the Delaware Art Museum, Grand Opera House, Delaware Theatre Company, OperaDelaware and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra to community-based organizations including the Christina Cultural Arts Center, The Music School of Delaware and First State Ballet Theatre. Signature events such as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival also draw audiences from across the region, contributing to the city’s cultural footprint.

How were the rankings tabulated?

Andrew Truscott, the Delaware Division of the Arts program officer for marketing and communications, said the rankings are based on measurable data rather than subjective opinions about artistic quality.

“In plain terms, the first being how much art the community produces, how many people show up for it and spend their own money on it, and then how much the government invests in it,” he said. “Those researchers out of those three buckets call those supply, demand and public support, and those roll up into 13 different measures, everything from the number of arts organizations and working artists, all the way to ticket revenue and public and private philanthropy.”

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Delaware

Power outage number tops 13,000 in Delaware County as storm hits

Published

12 hours ago

July 11, 2026

Press Room

Power outage number tops 13,000 in Delaware County as storm hits

Storms hit Saturday shortly before 3 p.m. in Delaware County with limbs down on lines, wires down, plus lightning strikes, and quickly nearly 8,000 PECO customers were without power.

There was an accompanying deluge as well in parts of the county, with many low-lying areas flooding. The power outage number continued rising to 10,365 by 3:10 p.m., and to over 13,000 by 3:30. By 4 p.m. that number began to decline.

The first lightning strike dispatch was to a house in the 100 block of Edgewood Avenue in Haverford Township, and crews were dispatched minutes later to the Five Guys on Town Centre Drive in Concord Township.

Crews arriving on both scenes reported nothing was evident, but they would investigate further, according to radio traffic.

Fire stations were also sent to a water rescue in the 2800 block of East County Line Road in Haverford. Police arrived first and reported that half the vehicle was underwater. The officer soon located the driver, who had gotten out and made it to safety, according to radio traffic.

Police, fire and ambulance dispatches continued rapid fire at 3:30 p.m. PECO was asked to respond to numerous locations. Numerous alarm calls were also received at the county communications center.

A National Weather Service-issued severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for eastern Delaware County until 3:30 p.m. There was also a flash flood warning for the same area until 6:45 p.m.

One rainfall measurement was available at 3 p.m. That was St. Davids, where 0.71 inch of rain was recorded in less than 45 minutes, eventual reaching eight-tenths of an inch.

The Philadelphia International Airport recorded 0.32 inch of rain.

Sunny skies were expected to dominate the weather for the workweek, with high temperatures rising into the 90s on Wednesday and likely to stay there at least through Friday.

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