Despite advancements in medical care and sizable investments in funding and awareness, Black mothers remain three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause, and twice as likely to lose a baby soon after birth.
Will the new Presidential administration and incoming Congress be able to reduce these disparities? To make progress, they should consider ongoing initiatives as a jumping off point.
Building Upon Existing Efforts
Several federal or state efforts aimed at tackling racial disparities in maternal and infant health have set the groundwork.
The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, championed by President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as the Healthy People Initiative from the Department of Health and Human Services each outline measurable goals for improving maternal and child health outcomes.
And the National Institutes of Health’s Pathways to Prevention panel called for a “maternal mortality moonshot” to emphasize investing in bold, systemic reforms.
Multi-Pronged Investment Opportunities
To continue making progress toward zero maternal deaths, the new administration and Congress would be wise to consider taking the following actions:
- Expanding access to comprehensive postpartum care: Prioritize policies that expand Medicaid coverage and extend it beyond the current postpartum period to ensure that mothers, particularly those from underserved racial and ethnic communities, can receive the care they need to prevent complications, and support their physical and mental health.
- Addressing systemic inequities: Support provider training programs that emphasize cultural competency and specialize in serving high-need populations.
- Improving data collection efforts: Better data can help improve targeting of interventions, so they can be targeted toward moms who need them most.
- Identifying risk factors: Invest in research into the contributing factors of disparities, including genetics, access to care and socioeconomic determinants could help to better understand the causes so risks can be minimized.
- Strengthening community-based solutions: Provide funding to scale community-based solutions that have been effective in supporting the specific needs of specific communities.
Racial disparities in maternal and infant health are not insurmountable, but they require focus and commitment. The new administration and Congress have a unique opportunity to partner with health care providers, engage patients and advocates, and involve communities to drive meaningful change in the year ahead.
