The ROSE Approach to Advancing Black Maternal and Infant Health
Abstract
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maternal Mortality Rate in the U.S has increased from 23.8 deaths per 100,000 to 32.9 in a one-year timeframe. Even more concerning, are the disproportionate rates amongst non-Hispanic Black women at “69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White” (Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021, 2023). Similar inequities are seen in the Georgia Maternal Mortality Factsheet, “48.6 per 100,000 pregnancy related deaths occur among non-Hispanic Black women” in comparison to 22.7 for non-Hispanic White (Maternal Mortality, n.d.). In addition to concerns regarding maternal mortality, are also those regarding Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM), which the CDC defines as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a women’s health. Data shows that SMM is on arise, and in Georgia SMM rates are higher than the national average with rates disproportionately higher for Black women.
There is long standing evidence that supports that breastfeeding strongly impacts lifetime health outcomes for infants and provides profound maternal health benefits. The protective factors include the lower risk for postpartum hemorrhage, coronary heart disease, breast cancer. However, even with well documented evidence on the importance of breastfeeding there are stark inequities in breastfeeding rates. The inequities in breastfeeding rates, especially among African American/Black families speak to broader systemic barriers to care. To confront these inequities, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), works to normalize breastfeeding by providing resources and networking opportunities for individuals and communities. As a national expert, and in partnership with communities, ROSE builds equity in maternal and child health and fatherhood initiatives through culturally appropriate training, education, advocacy, and support.
Keywords
Lactation, Breastfeeding, Equity, Maternal, Infant, Child
The ROSE Approach to Advancing Black Maternal and Infant Health
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maternal Mortality Rate in the U.S has increased from 23.8 deaths per 100,000 to 32.9 in a one-year timeframe. Even more concerning, are the disproportionate rates amongst non-Hispanic Black women at “69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White” (Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021, 2023). Similar inequities are seen in the Georgia Maternal Mortality Factsheet, “48.6 per 100,000 pregnancy related deaths occur among non-Hispanic Black women” in comparison to 22.7 for non-Hispanic White (Maternal Mortality, n.d.). In addition to concerns regarding maternal mortality, are also those regarding Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM), which the CDC defines as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to a women’s health. Data shows that SMM is on arise, and in Georgia SMM rates are higher than the national average with rates disproportionately higher for Black women.
There is long standing evidence that supports that breastfeeding strongly impacts lifetime health outcomes for infants and provides profound maternal health benefits. The protective factors include the lower risk for postpartum hemorrhage, coronary heart disease, breast cancer. However, even with well documented evidence on the importance of breastfeeding there are stark inequities in breastfeeding rates. The inequities in breastfeeding rates, especially among African American/Black families speak to broader systemic barriers to care. To confront these inequities, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), works to normalize breastfeeding by providing resources and networking opportunities for individuals and communities. As a national expert, and in partnership with communities, ROSE builds equity in maternal and child health and fatherhood initiatives through culturally appropriate training, education, advocacy, and support.
