In California, there’s a big problem with the health of Black mothers and their babies. Black mothers are almost four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than White mothers. Also, Black babies are twice as likely to die before they turn one year old. Black women are more likely to have babies born too early compared to White women.
To help fix this, California started programs like the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program in 1989 and the Perinatal Equity Initiative in 2018. These programs are trying to find ways to make sure Black mothers and their babies are healthier. In Los Angeles, there’s a special program called the Community Birth Plan that started in 2017. It’s trying to bring hospitals, communities, and healthcare providers together to support Black mothers.
Even with these efforts, not all mothers in California are getting the care they need when they’re pregnant. This is a problem for mothers of all races and ethnicities. The California Department of Public Health says that things like money, where you live, and policies can make these problems worse. They also say that racism and feeling like you’re being treated unfairly because of your race can make Black women more stressed and affect their health.
The California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) is working hard to make sure no mother or baby dies from preventable causes. They’re doing research and trying to get hospitals all over the state to work together to make things better. But there’s still a lot of work to do to make sure every mother and baby is healthy and treated fairly.
See “Is California failing women on maternal care?” by Lynn La on the Cal Matters website (February 28, 2024)
