Racism in maternity care as a determinant of First Nations women's health: a qualitative study with First Nations women and families in the Australian Capital Territory

First Nations women in Australia continue to experience disproportionately adverse maternal and infant outcomes. The ongoing legacy of colonisation and systemic racism shapes these outcomes. In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), maternity services remain dominated by Western biomedical approaches that fail to deliver culturally safe and anti-racist care despite national standards that mandate such practices.

Citation:
Williams K, Hamilton SL, Bacon R, Northam Oam H. Racism in maternity care as a determinant of First Nations women's health: a qualitative study with First Nations women and families in the Australian Capital Territory. SSM. 2026;9.

Keywords:
First nations; Racism; Maternal health; Kapati time yarning; Restorative approaches

Abstract:
First Nations women in Australia continue to experience disproportionately adverse maternal and infant outcomes. The ongoing legacy of colonisation and systemic racism shapes these outcomes. In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), maternity services remain dominated by Western biomedical approaches that fail to deliver culturally safe and anti-racist care despite national standards that mandate such practices.