Maternal Health Awareness Day
ACOG observes Maternal Health Awareness Day on January 23 to help more people learn about the urgency of the country's maternal mortality crisis and how we can work together to reverse its course.
You may already know that the United States is the only developed country in the world with a rising maternal mortality rate. But did you know that approximately 60% of maternal deaths are preventable? Racial inequities contribute to that disparity: Black patients die during and after pregnancy at a rate three times higher than white patients, and those who are American Indian and Alaska Native die at a rate two times higher than white patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to recent maternal mortality rates, as the virus is associated with increased risk of severe complications—including death—during pregnancy.
We must continue to focus our attention and resources on saving lives across the country. Please join us.
Maternal Health Awareness Day 2022
The theme for Maternal Health Awareness Day 2022 is Adding Up to Maternal Health. Please join us in highlighting the clinical approaches, policy solutions, and partnerships that together can add up to improved maternal health across the United States. Tag #MHAD2022 to join the conversation online.
Adding Up to Maternal Health
Countless factors can work together to improve maternal health. This Maternal Health Awareness Day, ACOG will be highlighting:
- Continuous Quality Improvement for Patient Safety
- Optimization of Health Before, During, and After Pregnancy
- Access to Family Planning
- Integration of Respectful Care
- Protection and Prevention for Improved Outcomes
Shareable Social Media Graphics
Join us by downloading and sharing the following graphics to voice your own thoughts on the themes above.
Resources on Maternal Health
ACOG Postpartum Tool Kit: Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality in the United States
ACOG Policy Priority on Eliminating Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
ACOG Commitment to Changing the Culture of Medicine and Eliminating Disparities in Women’s Health Outcomes
Optimizing Postpartum Care
Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM)
Commitment to Action: Eliminating Preventable Maternal Mortality