Health equity and maternal health

Maternal safety refers to the safety of a person during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Transitions through pregnancy and birth can pose complex safety challenges, and normal physiologic changes can result in signs and symptoms that make it difficult to recognize and diagnose serious illness. Additionally, patients may not receive timely or adequate information about their health or the healthcare system (and how to navigate the system in the postpartum period), making it challenging for them to advocate for themselves. The intersection of these factors results in missed opportunities for health and wellness, as well as preventable mortality and severe maternal morbidity. The actionable nature of these outcomes, as well as the significant disparities by patient race, ethnicity, and insurance type, indicates the need for more readiness, recognition, response, reporting, and respect. (author abstract)