The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital have embarked on a significant initiative aimed at addressing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. The project, known as the EMBRACE Center, has been awarded a $13 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to focus on improving birthing outcomes for Black mothers and infants in Western Pennsylvania.
The initiative comes in response to alarming statistics that show Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. In Pennsylvania, the disparity is even more pronounced, with Black women facing a maternal mortality rate 3.5 times higher than their white counterparts.
The EMBRACE Center plans to tackle this issue through a multi-faceted approach. This includes conducting community-based participatory research, implementing evidence-based interventions, and fostering collaborations between healthcare providers, community organizations, and patients. The center will also focus on addressing social determinants of health that contribute to these disparities.
As the EMBRACE Center begins its operations, it represents a significant step towards improving maternal health equity in Western Pennsylvania and potentially serving as a model for similar initiatives nationwide.
See “EMBRACE Center awarded $13 mil to improve Black birthing outcomes” (October 16, 2024)