Maternal Child Health Policy Final Project

​In Indiana, racial disparities with maternal mortality rates and birth outcomes are evident; per 100,000 live births in Indiana, 41.4 deaths occurred to Black women, and 13.7 deaths occurred for white women (Renbarger, et al., 2023). It also affects Alaskan Native and American Indian women as well, along with other women of color. Black Women have adverse health care experiences, especially when it comes to maternal health and care during and after pregnancy. Parts of this is from lack of access to care (unreliable transportation, low socioeconomic status) but it also stems from historical mistrust in healthcare providers among Black Americans (Renbarger, et al., 2023). 

Women4Change Indiana is working to address maternal mortality rates in Indiana. In general, Women4Change focuses their efforts to help women in Indiana have equitable access to resources and opportunities through both advocacy and education. There are many issues that they highlight on their site (economic stability, sexual assault, reproductive access), and maternal health is one of those issues.