Georgia Public Broadcasting: Black women three times as likely to die during childbirth than white women
Washington, D.C. –– U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is launching a push to improve maternal health and curb maternal mortality rates in Georgia and nationwide — a crisis that disproportionately impacts Black women.
Georgia’s maternal mortality rate ranks among the worst in the nation. According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, Black women are nearly three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women.
“The shockingly high maternal mortality rate for Black women in Georgia is a travesty. It is unacceptable for any mother to suffer or die because she lacks proper care, and that’s why I’m urging my colleagues to pass this legislation I’ve cosponsored that addresses maternal mortality for Black women in Georgia,” Sen. Ossoff said.
According to the CDC, nearly two thirds of maternal deaths occur during or after pregnancy, increasing the need for stronger preventative and post-partum care.
Sen. Ossoff is calling on Congress to pass theSocial Determinants for Moms Act to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the maternal mortality rate in Georgia and across the country.
The Social Determinants for Moms Act would:
- Establish a task force across agencies and departments to coordinate Federal efforts to address social determinants of health for pregnant and postpartum people.
- Provide funding for safe, stable, adequate, quality housing for pregnant and postpartum people.
- Study the transportation barriers that prevent pregnant and postpartum people from attending maternity care appointments and accessing important social services.
- Extend WIC eligibility periods for new moms.
- Provide funding to establish and scale programs that deliver nutritious food, infant formula, clean water, and diapers to pregnant and postpartum people in food deserts.
- Study the effects of environmental risks to maternal and infant health outcomes and make recommendations for steps to end racial and ethnic disparities.
- Provide funding for free, drop-in child care access.
- Provide grants to community-based organizations and public health departments to address unique social determinants of health needs in their communities.
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