House Resolution 426
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Jackson of the 68th, Davis of the 87th, Cannon of
the 58th, Burnough of the 77th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Urging the General Assembly to support the creation of a Black Maternal Health Caucus; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the United States has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among
high-income countries, with approximately 700 to 900 pregnancy related deaths per year; and
WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80
percent of pregnancy related deaths in the United States are preventable; and
WHEREAS, the United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates among
high-income countries, currently ranking 33 out of 36 countries belonging to the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with an average of 5.58
deaths per 1,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing body of evidence that racism and racial bias in healthcare
systems contribute to the national maternal mortality and morbidity crisis and infant
mortality and morbidity, in particular for Black pregnant and postpartum women and infants;
and
WHEREAS, in the United States, Black women are three to four times more likely to die of
pregnancy related causes than non-Hispanic white women, which is a disparity that cannot
be fully explained by differences in access to prenatal care, socioeconomic status, and
general physical health; and
WHEREAS, a key objective of the Georgia Department of Public Health is to reduce health
and mental health disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities and to achieve
health equity throughout Georgia, which should include health equity for Black pregnant
women and infants; and
WHEREAS, statistics have shown that Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality
rates in the United States at almost twice the national rate; and
WHEREAS, in Georgia, Black women are almost three times more likely to die of pregnancy
related causes than non-Hispanic white women; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has experienced a string of hospital labor and delivery closures across
the state, especially in rural areas; and
WHEREAS, in Georgia, 34.6 percent of counties are defined as maternity care deserts,
compared to 32.6 percent in the United States; and
WHEREAS, chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity,
and diabetes, contribute to high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and, in Georgia,
Black women have egregious above-average rates of all of these conditions, resulting in
high-risk pregnancies and poor maternal health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid coverage for doula care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is
linked to improved maternal and infant health outcomes, as doula-assisted mothers were four
times less likely to have a baby with low birth weight, two times less likely to experience a
birth complication for the mother or infant, and significantly more likely to initiate
breastfeeding; and
WHEREAS, access to quality prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care is essential to
improving Black maternal health outcomes and reducing preventable maternal deaths; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a dedicated Georgia legislative Black Maternal Health
Caucus will provide the necessary framework to research, develop, and recommend
evidence-based policies and programs to improve maternal health in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a Georgia legislative Black Maternal Health Caucus will
serve as a coalition of members dedicated to increasing awareness and raising issues related
to poor maternal health outcomes and disparities among Black women, including
disproportionately high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality compared to their white
counterparts.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body urge the General Assembly to create a Georgia legislative Black
Maternal Health Caucus as a venue for members to organize around Georgia's maternal
health crisis and advance policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and end
disparities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.