Agency for All Project’s Post

Proud to represent The Motherhood Group and serve as an expert panel member at yesterday's Southwark Maternity Commission report launch. The Motherhood Group was commissioned to conduct an engagement report, examining the experiences of over 100+ Black and ethnic minority mothers and healthcare practitioners in maternity services. Our findings on the Black maternal experience highlighted key areas like quality of care, communication, and support networks. The report closely aligns with themes from last week's 5th annual Black Maternal Mental Health Week, which focused on advancing and transforming care. Inspiring discussions on the panel and valuable insights from MP Florence Eshalomi made for a productive launch. I'm hopeful for the future of maternity care in our community as we work to address inequalities and empower families. Why are Black mums still facing disproportionate challenges in maternal healthcare? This question continues to drive our work at The Motherhood Group Don't let this be just a "tick box" exercise, but a real catalyst for change. It's striking how our report findings underscore the urgent need for systemic improvements in maternal care for Black women. #MaternityCare #BlackMaternalHealth #HealthcareEquality

Very humbled and grateful to National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for supporting our work to improve pregnancy, birth and postnatal experiences in Australia and globally. What are we working on to achieve this? ⚖ Positioning healthcare experiences, dignity, rights, justice and well-being as fundamental components of high-quality maternity care 🤝 Collaborating across health and social science disciplines, and with women and families, about what matters most and how to improve services for all 📊 Integrating measurement of experiences of and satisfaction with maternity care into routine monitoring, evaluation, and action 💟 Applying an equity and justice lens to all aspects of research, intervention design, implementation, quality improvement, and engagement

The life experience framework for #government #cx efforts is truly changing the game. It’s the perfect #seriouslyhuman empathy-based approach to highlight on our Empathy Affect pod. And as someone who just went through this particular life experience, I’m paying close attention!

Vanessa Ross ’91 empowers women to use their voices and speak up about what’s happening to their bodies as they embark on their midlife journeys. A Certified Nurse-Midwife and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, her goal is to change the negative cultural thoughts about menopause and inspire women to make the second half of life as powerful as the first. Read about how Ross is making a difference not only for her patients but also her Hutchison classmates: https://lnkd.in/eHmsRsA2

Excited to share my research, "Exploring the perception of Afghan childbearing women about respectful maternity care," published in the International Journal of Scientific Reports. This study uncovers the challenges Afghan women face during childbirth, including mistreatment and lack of dignity in healthcare settings. It highlights the urgent need for Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to improve maternal health outcomes in Afghanistan. Here is the link for the article: https://lnkd.in/gFA2Whs5

The recent closure of maternity wards in communities like Smithtown, NY—a suburb with a high median income—underscores a growing crisis that is not confined to rural areas. Dr. Dr. Ndidiamaka A., founder of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University, highlights the gravity of this issue: "Limiting access to care and pushing people further out of their home communities are direct contributors to maternal morbidity. It’s that simple." These closures, driven by high costs and staffing shortages, are disproportionately affecting Black communities and exacerbating existing health disparities. At TUSM, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha and her amazing team are leading crucial efforts to bring this conversation to the forefront and advocate for systemic changes that will protect maternal health and ensure equitable access to care for all. Now more than ever, we and everyone who are building the future of healthcare must work together to address these challenges and safeguard the future of maternal care in America. Read more here in this Bloomberg article: https://lnkd.in/gKVJn37i #MaternalHealth #HealthcareAccess #TuftsMed #HealthEquity

First Nations women face almost twice the risk of stillbirth or “sorry business babies” compared to non-First Nations women in Australia. Researchers from the Mater Research based Stillbirth CRE describe how much of this inequity can be linked to the ongoing impact of colonisation on First Nations women and birthing. Here's how: ⚫ Ongoing intergenerational trauma ⚫ Maternity services aren’t designed for First Nations women ⚫ Resources aren’t designed for First Nations women ⚫ Racism and discrimination in maternity services ⚫ Providers don’t understand First Nations health. By developing culturally adapted resources and providing education and training, the Stillbirth CRE is working to help eliminate racial disparities in stillbirth rates in Australia. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtW22h_9 This article was authored by: Deanna Stuart-Butler, Dr Aleena Wojcieszek, Sarah Graham, Valerie Ah Chee and Prof Vicki Flenady AM.

🌍 World Population Day 🌍 Today, we recognize the importance of family planning in ensuring better health for women and creating happy, healthy families. Access to family planning methods is crucial for women’s health. It allows them to make informed choices about their reproductive health, reduces the risks of unintended pregnancies, and lowers the chances of complications during childbirth. By planning their families, women can pursue education and careers, contributing to their overall well-being and the prosperity of their communities. Moreover, family planning helps families space their children, ensuring that each child receives adequate attention, care, and resources, leading to happier and healthier family units. Let’s work together to promote access to family planning services and empower women to take control of their reproductive health. A healthier world begins with informed and supported choices. #WorldPopulationDay #FamilyPlanning #WomensHealth #HealthyFamilies #EmpowerWomen

Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the CDC. There are multiple reasons for this alarming statistic, as Christina Hiebert, MD, chief of the Kaiser Permanente Fresno Birthing Center explains in this news story about efforts to improve maternity care and birth outcomes for Black women in California’s Central Valley. Kaiser Permanente recently made a grant to the Fresno-based maternal-health focused, Black Wellness & Property Center, to help increase the number of certified Black doulas in the area – another way we are working to address the root causes of racial disparities in access to high-quality maternity care and health outcomes for Black mothers and babies.  https://lnkd.in/gun4RyMF