As maternal mortality continues to rise in the U.S—amidst the COVID-19 crisis and a backdrop of growing restrictions on reproductive care—addressing the structural determinants that influence disparities in maternal outcomes is critical. In a new article published in Think Global Health, GHELI Program Coordinator Tyler Fox examines North Carolina’s proposed strategy to address maternal mortality and racial disparities at the state level. In 2020, Black women were nearly three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications nationwide. In North Carolina, the disparities are similar: Black mothers were 2.9 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes in 2019. The article summarizes North Carolina’s House Bill 488, state-level legislation poised to address maternal disparities and expand maternal health care. Introduced in April 2021, the bill aims to expand doula services, providing coverage for doula support under the Medicaid program in the state.
Fox highlights the role and potential impact of doula services in improving maternal health outcomes, emphasizing the benefits of a Medicaid reimbursable doula program. Doulas, who are care providers that support pregnant people during the pre-, intra-, and postpartum periods, can significantly improve birth outcomes for mothers and infants. The article cites how doula support can result in less costly medical interventions during childbirth, lower preterm birth rates, and safer, more supportive birth experiences. North Carolina has the opportunity to help forge the path toward equitable maternal health care, with the potential to lessen stark racial disparities in maternal health outcomes and prioritize the care, safety, and wellbeing of birthing persons statewide.
Explore GHELI’s curated resources on U.S. maternal mortality.