Summary
Hey, did you know that in Tulsa, Oklahoma, they’re doing vital work to combat maternal mortality, especially among black women? It’s like they’ve built this lifeline called the Healthy Start program, which gives mothers-to-be all the support they need, from prenatal care to parenting education, and even coordinates rides to their appointments. It’s impressive, considering Oklahoma’s high maternal mortality rate, but with this program, they haven’t had any maternal deaths among clients.
Key Points
• The federal Healthy Start program funds projects that provide care and support for pregnant women. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, this initiative is crucial as the state has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the nation, particularly among Black women.
• Healthy Start projects offer prenatal and postpartum care, education on pregnancy and parenting, and referrals for services like depression or domestic violence. They also assist with practical matters like transportation.
• Other approaches to the maternal health crisis include the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative which shares best practices on dealing with issues that can lead to maternal injury or death. The state has seen its maternal mortality rate halve since the program’s inception.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced over $568 million in funding to improve maternal health, including home visiting services and better identification and prevention of pregnancy-related deaths.
• Locally-run programs, such as New York City’s New Family Home Visits Initiative and Tulsa’s Healthy Start, are crucial for tailoring solutions to individual communities.
Background
• The United States has a high maternal mortality rate compared to other developed nations. This is particularly acute among Black women, who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications than white women.
• Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a city with a history marked by racial violence, including the 1921 massacre of Black residents and destruction of the prosperous Greenwood neighborhood, also known as “Black Wall Street.” Health disparities persist in this area today.
Future Implications
• The continued funding and expansion of programs like Healthy Start, paired with efforts to improve overall medical care and tailor solutions to individual communities, could help to reduce maternal mortality rates and address racial disparities.
• The success of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative suggests that similar initiatives could be beneficial in other states. The recent proposal by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for nationwide baseline health and safety requirements for maternal and obstetric services could be a step in this direction.
