Special Issue: Racism & Reproductive Health: Paving a Path to Health Equity
The October 2023 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology will be dedicated exclusively to issues of racism and reproductive health and tangible steps that we can take to pave the path to health equity. The call for papers is available at https://bit.ly/3wKXvHg.
On October 25, we hosted a webinar to engage potential authors and reviewers, and to answer questions. A recording of the presentation, presentation slide deck, and FAQs are available below:
Equity Rubric
Helpful suggestions and reflective questions to support authors and reviewers in centering racial equity in science is available at https://bit.ly/3k9E34o. Authors have the option to submit this completed rubric with manuscript submissions to the Green Journal. This is optional and will aid reviewers and editors in evaluating the ways in which your work centers health equity principles. Reviewers will use this tool to systematically assess the strengths of the work in relation to reproductive health equity.
An instructional video and a slide deck on the equity rubric are also available below:
Submission Information
We are looking for diverse, innovative, inclusive, transdisciplinary study teams that will take a strength- and solution-based approach to address racism in reproductive health. The Editors will consider all article types currently found in the Instructions for Authors, and poetry, art, and additional novel concepts. Examples of potentially relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
- Evidence-based strategies to mitigate the health effects of racism
- Promising policy and institutional reforms
- Barriers to meaningful change and progress in achieving health equity
- Ways in which inequities in access to care and quality services affect the reproductive health of minoritized people
- Measuring racism
- Quality improvement initiatives that promote health equity
Author Considerations
- Use patient-centered research models
- Avoid genetic explanations for disparities unless the study specifically focuses on genetic testing
- Contextualize results with conceptual models
- Cite prior work of scientists from historically marginalized groups
- Use people-first, affirming, and gender-inclusive language
- Move from simple problem documentation to potential solutions and actionable steps.
- Contributions are encouraged from
authors with the lived experience of racism, junior faculty,Historically
Black Colleges and Universities, institutions serving Hispanic people,
tribal collegesand universities, and institutions that serve Asian
American and Pacific Islander people
Deadline
The submission window is January 20, 2023 to February 1, 2023. “Special Edition for Racism & Reproductive Health” should be noted in the cover letter. When selecting classifications during the submission process, please include “Special Edition for Racism & Reproductive Health,” in addition to any others that qualify.
