Black Maternal Health Week
What is BMHW?
Black Mamas Matter Alliance is hosting the third annual BMHW. This campaign increases awareness provides education and builds community around the complex issues surrounding Black Maternal health disparities.
What does black maternal health look like in Iowa?
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African Americans are more likely to have low birth weight infants
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Experience infant mortality at 3x the rate of white families
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Iowa does not disaggregate maternal mortality data by race so the numbers are unclear. Maternal mortality in the state has more than doubled in the past three years.
What is ICCC doing?
When comparing the US to international trends, we are the only developed nation to have an increasing maternal mortality rate.
Our staff includes Olivia Samples, a Full Spectrum Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor who specializes in working with Black families. Olivia founded Kismet Doula Services where she serves families who are pregnant, laboring and parenting while also advocating for systemic change.
Olivia is also HealthConnect Fellow with the Mid-Iowa Health Foundation. She is using her time in the fellowship to build power among other black maternal health advocates to shift the maternal health landscape for black women.