Raising awareness during Black Maternal Health Week

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) – Black Maternal Health Week emphasizes the need for better resources and assistance among pregnant Black women. While Arkansas ranks the worst in the nation for maternal mortality, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, Black women in Arkansas are twice as likely to experience a pregnancy-associated death compared to white women in the state. According to data from ACHI, in 2021 out of 100 new mothers, 84 of them began prenatal care in their first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, one had no insurance during pregnancy, 10 smoked cigarettes during the last three months of pregnancy, and 25 reported experiencing depression during pregnancy. “I think we’ve got to recognize the risks in our moms early on when they’re pregnant,” ACHI President Joe Thompson said. “We need to make sure they have access to prenatal care during their pregnancy and that they have the birth in the safest location possible.” Some common issues that may lead to the increased pregnancy-associated death rate among Black mothers in Arkansas are chronic conditions before pregnancy, healthcare access issues, and trust problems with physicians. According to Dr. Thompson, there’s been a push for more doulas in Arkansas to help...