The Maternal and Perinatal Health working group, one of two primary arms of the Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts initiative, aims to improve equity in pregnancy, labor and delivery, and early motherhood.
Why This, Why Now
People who remain healthy during pregnancy and after birth are more likely to stay healthy later in life and have better birth outcomes, influencing infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Although MA has many favorable outcomes for maternal health compared to the national average, inequities by race/ethnicity and geography exist and have persisted.
In July 2023, the Department of Public Health (DPH) released a first-of-its-kind report revealing that rates of severe maternal morbidity in Massachusetts had nearly doubled over the past decade. The report revealed that these complications disproportionately impacted Black individuals and people with disabilities.
These disparities are devastating. That’s why the Healey-Driscoll Administration is honing in on maternal and perinatal health in Phase One of Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts. Using the recommendations laid out in the DPH Review of Maternal Health Access as a guide, the maternal and perinatal workgroup will take action to protect birthing people across Massachusetts, especially those most impacted by these disparities.