New York City has a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of persistent, intolerable, and preventable racial and ethnic inequities in maternal mortality, severe maternal
morbidity (life-threatening complications in childbirth), and infant mortality. Achieving birth equity requires coordinated activities across government agencies, health care systems, and community partners. Our strategy will transform women’s health care by addressing implicit bias, enhancing maternity care, increasing surveillance, and expanding public education.
IMPLEMENT A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE WITH MATERNITY HOSPITALS
DOHMH will work with a network of 24 public and private maternity hospitals to implement hospital-specific recommendations to reduce the number of life-threatening complications during and after childbirth. Working in neighborhoods with the highest rates of pregnancy-related complications, hospitals will review severe maternal morbidity data to identify problem areas in care and design
improvements, including adopting trauma and resilienceinformed care training, to better serve women of color.
