New York City earmarked $12.8 million for a five-year plan to reduce maternal deaths and childbirth complications among women of color, with a focus on eliminating the widest related disparity — the disparity in maternal mortality between black and white women.
The plan is four-pronged. It involves implicit bias training for healthcare providers across the city; improved data tracking and analysis of severe maternal mortality and maternal morbidity events; enhanced comprehensive maternal care at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities; and enhancing public awareness through education opportunities with community-based organizations.
"We know one of the key drivers of racial disparities in maternal mortality is structural racism. Decades of inequitable distribution of resources across neighborhoods and unequal treatment within healthcare settings have resulted in racial differences in birth outcomes," Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, MD, said in a press release. "We want to thank First Lady Chirlane McCray and Deputy Mayor Palacio for investing in a bold plan to address maternal deaths. This builds upon the efforts of the Health Department to improve maternal health and close the racial gap by transforming how mothers, and specifically women of color, are cared for and supported throughout their pregnancy."
Learn more about the plan here.
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