Abstract
Problem Identification
There has been an exponential rise in maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the US over the last two decades. It increased from a rate of 9.7 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 2002 to a rate of 23.6 deaths per 100,000 deaths in 2018 to 2021. It has specifically deteriorated in Black mothers in comparison to other races such as White, Latino and Asian mothers in the US. This project focuses on MMR amongst Black mothers aged 40 years and above in South Los Angeles in Los Angeles County which has significantly high numbers for MMR in this population.
Analysis
The main factors responsible for rising MMR amongst Black population in South Los Angeles stem from the widely spread causes all over the US. Some important ones are marginalization, implicit bias, disinterest of government in making investments in Black neighborhoods, psychosocial stress caused by long term racial trauma. These factors contribute to the development of an unhealthy lifestyle which includes consumption of fast food, sedentary lifestyles and smoking which ultimately lead to poor health outcomes in Black mothers.
Intervention Proposal
Health promotion and health policy will be used as interventions. A coalition of several organizations of LA county that are already working towards reducing Black MMR will implement these interventions.
Implementation and Evaluation
The program will be implemented in Jan 2025 for two years. The program will undergo process and summative evaluations to check if its objectives and goals are met.