Georgia is facing a severe maternal mortality crisis, with a significant number of mothers losing their lives during or after childbirth, according to advocates.
In anticipation of Mother’s Day this weekend, WSB-TV’s Gets Real explores the particularly devastating impact of the issue on families of color.
Advocates in the metro Atlanta area are actively addressing the challenges surrounding maternal health and mortality by utilizing data and innovative ideas.
Advocates at a United Way event expressed that the term “maternal mortality” is often unfamiliar to many people.
According to Tamara Mason from March of Dimes, there is a serious crisis situation when it comes to black women. She emphasized that black women face a significantly higher risk of dying from pregnancy complications compared to white women. In fact, depending on the location, black women are three times more likely to experience these tragic outcomes.
March of Dimes releases report cards for every state, assessing pre-term births and monitoring maternal death rates. According to the organization, Georgia received a failing grade for pre-term births, indicating that the state’s performance falls below the national average.
According to the organization, Georgia has a pre-term birth rate of 11.9%, which is higher than the national rate of 10.4% in the United States.
According to the organization, African American mothers had a pre-term birth rate of 14.9%.
In the Atlanta metro area, the pre-term birth rates varied from F to D+ in the five core counties.
According to March of Dimes, the pre-term birth rates in Clayton and Fulton counties received “F” grades, with 13.3% and 11.7% of births being pre-term, respectively.
Cobb County was given a “D” grade with a rate of 11.1%, while DeKalb County received a “D-” and Gwinnett County earned a “D+”. According to March of Dimes, the rates in Clayton and Fulton counties had improved, but unfortunately, the rates in Cobb and DeKalb counties had worsened. Gwinnett County’s rate, on the other hand, remained unchanged.
According to March of Dimes, the City of Atlanta saw a decline in its pre-term birth rate, receiving an “F” grade with a rate of 11.9%. This is worse than the previous year’s statistics.
Jemea Dorsey, from the Center for Black Women’s Wellness, emphasizes the crucial role of mothers and the entire community in initiating positive change.
According to Dorsey, discussing women’s health and wellness, as well as the disparities between women of color and white women, can result in increased access to care, improved healthcare services, and greater awareness of the issues affecting mothers.
According to Channel 2 Action News, it has been revealed that half of Georgia’s 159 counties lack access to an OB-GYN.
Dorsey emphasized the importance of connecting mothers with postpartum and prenatal care, as well as removing any barriers that may hinder access to these services. The ultimate goal is to provide comprehensive support to mothers and families.
Advocates for maternal health argue that when mothers and babies are discharged from the hospital, there is an increased likelihood of better health monitoring, ensuring that more new mothers are available to support their children as they grow up.
Having quicker access to medical care can be incredibly helpful when complications arise.
