Poor maternal health outcomes have been front & center in the US during recent years—with good reason: Rates of maternal mortality in the US are among the worst of high-income countries & are > 3x higher among Black women than among white women. http://gu.tt/2D7PK3a  #BMHW20

These disparities are the results of systemic racism and discrimination, reflect broader societal inequities, and are magnified during the #COVID19 pandemic. US policymakers and medical institutions must acknowledge this reality and take action. #BlackMamasMatter

Many US states are working to address these unacceptable outcomes by establishing commissions to investigate & make recommendations to reduce rates of maternal deaths. Some states are also expanding access to & improving the quality of maternal health care services. #BMHW20

In 2019, 12 states established new maternal mortality review commissions, while another 8 states and DC enacted laws to improve existing MMRCs, including through better maternal health data collection and information sharing. https://gu.tt/StatePolicyTrends2019 #BMHW20

After California’s MMRC found that social factors such as racismmaternal mortality rates, the state later enacted a policy requiring hospitals and birth centers to implement implicit bias training for all perinatal care providers! https://gu.tt/2USgEWK  #BlackMamasMatter

As #COVID19 continues, we need to keep building on efforts to protect Black mamas—including at the federal level. Congress should pass the Black Maternal Health #Momnibus proposed by @BMHCaucus to comprehensively address US maternal health disparities. #BlackMamasMatter