REVITALIZING MATERNITY CARE IN RURAL REGIONS: INITIATIVES BY AN HBCU
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The Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta has launched an innovative initiative to address the alarming rates of maternal mortality, particularly among Black mothers, in southwest Georgia. This region suffers from severe healthcare disparities, with limited access to maternity care and only one hospital serving the Albany area, highlighting significant challenges for expecting mothers.
The initiative focuses on training doulas, known as perinatal patient navigators, to provide essential support to pregnant women throughout their journey from pregnancy to childbirth. Recently, twelve Black women completed a rigorous 20-week training program at Morehouse, equipping them with the skills to advocate for and assist mothers in their community. Joan Anderson, one of the graduates, expressed her determination to be a catalyst for change, emphasizing the urgent need for support within their underserved community.
Georgia faces a critical maternal health crisis, with an estimated 35 to 40 mothers dying annually from pregnancy-related complications. This crisis disproportionately affects Black women, who are more than twice as likely as their white counterparts to experience such tragic outcomes. Natalie Hernandez-Green, Executive Director of the Morehouse School of Medicine Center for Maternal Health Equity, underscores the initiative's goal to mitigate these disparities by building a compassionate and knowledgeable workforce dedicated to maternal health.
Doulas play a pivotal role in the healthcare system, offering emotional, physical, and advocacy support to expectant mothers. Despite their crucial contribution, doula services are often not covered by insurance, posing a financial barrier that prevents many low-income women from accessing their services. Advocates are actively lobbying for Georgia's Medicaid program to cover doula care, citing potential cost savings for the state and significant improvements in maternal health outcomes.
Funding for Morehouse's doula program currently relies on grants to support the salaries of five doulas during their inaugural year of service. This initiative not only aims to reduce maternal mortality rates but also seeks to empower communities by providing comprehensive support that addresses broader social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and transportation challenges.
Through these efforts, Hernandez-Green and her team envision a transformative impact on Georgia's maternal health landscape, advocating for systemic change "one person at a time." By empowering doulas to advocate for Black mothers and birthing people, Morehouse School of Medicine is pioneering a model that prioritizes equity, accessibility, and dignity in maternal care.
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