In a bold move to combat maternal mortality, California has unveiled an ambitious plan to halve pregnancy-related deaths by the end of 2026. Despite already boasting the nation’s lowest maternal mortality rate, the state recognizes persistent racial disparities that demand urgent attention.
The initiative, dubbed “Strong Start & Beyond,” was announced on September 17 by California Surgeon General Diana E. Ramos, MD, MPH, MBA. It aims to tackle a crisis where Black women face a threefold higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.
“Although California has made significant progress on improving maternal health outcomes, we’re still losing too many mothers, especially Black women,” Dr. Ramos stated. She emphasized that 80% of maternal deaths in California and across the U.S. are preventable.
The plan includes innovative strategies such as an open-source, at-home pregnancy risk questionnaire available in English and Spanish. This tool will help individuals assess their risk level and guide them towards appropriate care pathways.
Heart disease, identified as the leading cause of pregnancy-related death across ethnicities in California, will be a primary focus. The initiative also aims to increase awareness and access to existing resources, particularly for marginalized groups.
Recent research has highlighted “unacceptably high” maternal mortality rates among all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., with a concerning upward trend for Hispanic and Asian and Pacific Islander women from 2016 to 2019.
Dr. Ramos stressed the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “What we’re doing in California can be replicated everywhere — breaking down silos to work collaboratively, focusing on prevention, bringing in community voices, and putting mothers and pregnant people at the forefront.”
See “California Pledges to Halve Maternal Mortality By Late 2026” (September 19, 2023)
