Statement Amplifying Black Maternal Health Week 2024

By Premier Women and Infants Team

Premier acknowledges and supports Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) April 11-17 as a platform to amplify the voices of Black birthing people*. BMHW was founded and is led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance to raise awareness and inspire action on Black maternal health. This week serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to dismantle systemic barriers, combat racial disparities and prioritize equity in maternal healthcare.

Premier continues to advance health equity programming and solutions – and advocate for efforts aimed at reducing maternal mortality and morbidity and the disproportionate impact on Black birthing people and families. For example, using the PINC AI™ Healthcare Database (PHD), Premier determined that out of over 860,000 deliveries, over 4,000 Black birthing people experienced severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in 2022 (306 SMMs per 10,000 deliveries), which is 71 percent higher than White birthing people.

Premier’s perinatal improvement work strives to address the factors contributing to these disproportionate maternal and infant health outcomes from racial, ethnic, social, and geographic disparities, and to explore and improve the ways in which healthcare can be tailored to birthing people with different needs. We can accomplish this by working together towards broader implementation of evidence-based practices and tools to help care teams provide equitable, respectful care during the pregnancy and postpartum periods for all birthing people, along with research designed to lead clinical change.

By elevating Black voices and through our collective work, we can create meaningful change and move us closer to a future where all birthing people can thrive throughout the pregnancy and postpartum journey. Join us in recognizing the importance of Black Maternal Health Week and committing to the pursuit of maternal equity.

*Note - Adapted from CMQCC: We recognize not all people who become pregnant and give birth identify as mothers or women. We believe all persons are equally deserving of patient-centered care that helps them attain their full potential and live authentic, healthy lives.