Yotanna Ikenna-Obioha '25 | 2024-25 Fellow

About:

My name is Yotanna Ikenna-Obioha I am from Westlake Village in California. I graduated from  Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Health and Society. My academic interests focus on health equity, systemic disparities in healthcare, and the psychological and social factors that shape health outcomes in marginalized communities.

My Ellen Barretto Fellowship research focused on the lived experiences of Black women during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Through qualitative interviews, I examined how systemic racism, implicit bias, and social determinants of health contribute to disparities in maternal healthcare. My findings highlighted patterns of dismissed pain, unequal treatment, and inconsistent postpartum support, all of which have serious implications for maternal health outcomes. My research aimed to amplify Black women’s voices and inform solutions that promote more equitable maternal healthcare.