It Takes a Village: Proceedings of the Maternal Health Incubator
Racism, not race, drives maternal health inequities in the United States.
The AAMC Center for Health Justice’s inaugural Maternal Health Incubator, held in May 2022, covered a wide array of topics that impact maternal health outcomes, particularly among people of color who give birth and other marginalized populations. Participants were asked to articulate ideas that could serve as a springboard for a future, action-oriented plan to address inequities. Most agree that no single approach or strategy will fully address the complex and longstanding constellation of factors that has driven maternal health inequities for generations. It Takes a Village: A Multisector Approach to Health Equity for Women and Birthing People provides a summary of the event and examines work that still needs to be done.
Key Findings:
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The current structure of insurance coverage and reimbursement policies can pose significant threats to health during and after pregnancy.
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The United States is the only OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) country without a national-level guarantee of paid leave, another important element impacting the health during and after pregnancy.
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Improved data collection practices and data sharing are the cornerstones to enhancing the health care experiences of people who give birth.
Learn more about how the AAMC Center for Health Justice is addressing maternal health inequities through research, policy analysis, and community engagement.