Informational Resources

An important focus of my birthwork is social justice. Racism, capitalism, and patriarchy are systems of oppression that are the foundation of white supremacy and intersect with all forms of oppression. These systems of oppression have existed within birthwork for hundreds of years through practice and policies in the form of controlling birthing bodies during labor and birth, researching, lack of appropriate care, and high costs of care. Because of the historical and ongoing oppression, “Birthwork is Activism” as China Tolliver (Rise Up Midwife) says.

Here you will find links to private and governmental organizations, committees, social groups, and up-to-date information and statistics focused on birth justice, pregnancy, and infant deaths. It is also important to honor each of these people and their families. Please take a moment to reflect on these individuals as you read through these informational resources.

State of Ohio

Pregnancy-Related Mortality Ratios, Ohio 2008 - 2017

A 2008 to 2017 report about Ohio pregnancy-related mortality ratios released by the Ohio Department of Health states that between 2015 to 2017 the ratio was “18.8 deaths per 100,000 live births.” The report states that the cause for increase in pregnancy deaths in 2015 was "primarily driven by an increase in accidental overdose deaths.” Furthermore, “731 pregnancy-associated deaths in Ohio" were reported for the years 2008 to 2017. Of these deaths, “31% were determined to be pregnancy-related. 60% were determined to be pregnancy-associated but not pregnancy-related. 59% of pregnancy-related deaths were deemed preventable.”

To date, the Ohio Department of Health has not released reports of Pregnancy-related Mortality ratios for 2018 or beyond; however, a nonprofit organization March of Dimes, released data that in 2018 there were "14.1 deaths per 100,000 live births" reported in Ohio.

Racial Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Deaths, Ohio 2008 - 2016

The Ohio Department of Health recognizes that there are racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths. According to the department “In Ohio, Black women are two and a half times more likely to die from a cause related to pregnancy than white women. These disparities begin during pregnancy and continue through the first year after delivery. Black women: 29.5 deaths per 100,000 births. White women: 11.5 deaths per 100,000 births.”

Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality, Ohio

The Ohio Department of Health published an annual report outlining that “infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Ohio infant mortality across all races was 6.9 per 1,000 live births in 2019, the same as it was in 2018.” “Black infant mortality rate was 14.3 in 2019, up from 13.9 in 2018.” And “Black infants were more than 2.8 times more likely to die than white infants” the report added. Based on these data, the state of Ohio has established a task force to eliminate racial disparities in infant mortality across the state.

Organization

The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) – is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by reducing preventable cesareans through education, supporting cesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

www.ican-online.org

Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC) – is a nonprofit community of birth workers, or doulas, primarily providing social support to pregnant women at highest risk for infant mortality during the perinatal period.

www.birthingbeautiful.org

Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) – is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that centers Black mamas and birthing people to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.