Evaluating Rates and Interventions Related to Black Maternal Mortality in Pennsylvania

Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity have become serious concerns in the United States, as rates continue to increase throughout the country. Black women in the United States face disproportionate rates of these conditions due to many causal factors, such as systemic racism, lack of quality access to health care, and the inequitable distribution of social determinants of health. Due to this, interventions that help improve rates of black maternal mortality and morbidity must address these causal factors. The present study seeks to determine which interventions would be the most effective in reducing black maternal morbidity if implemented in Allegheny County. The study provides a mixed-methods exploratory analysis of publicly available health department data to conclude which interventions may be the most effective. The study produced several recommendations for Allegheny County to consider when designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that address black maternal health inequities. Furthermore, the study examines how public health social workers can be utilized to advance black maternal health equity