FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Statement attributable to:
Ada D. Stewart, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
“Black Maternal Health Week is a time to reflect on our commitment to advancing maternal health equity. The United States continues to have some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the developed world, and Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.
“The United States is the only industrialized nation where maternal deaths are on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 pregnancy-related deaths occur in the U.S. each year and 60 percent of these deaths are preventable. Family physicians are well positioned to address the root causes as they are trained to provide comprehensive care including prenatal, perinatal and postpartum care for patients in the communities where they live.
“Family physicians see firsthand the unique barriers that our patients of color and rural residents face, and the AAFP has consistently advocated for policymakers to address our nation’s maternal health crisis. We are concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic may be further exacerbating inequities in maternal health for Black mothers.
“The American Academy of Family Physicians commends the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for taking actions to improve equitable access to maternal health services. We also appreciate the work of the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus to raise awareness about the maternal health crisis in our country.
“The AAFP is committed to educating physicians about inequities in maternal morbidity and mortality and supports strategies that integrate birth equity into the delivery of family-centered maternity care. We are committed to working with the administration and Congress to build on these actions and improve maternal health outcomes for all people. We can and must do better for our patients.”
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Stewart, contact Janelle Davis, (913) 912-0377, or jdavis@aafp.org.
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About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 128,300 physicians and medical students. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on impactful care for people of all ages, races and genders across all medical conditions. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician's career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine. To learn more, visit aafp.org. For information about health care, medical conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s patient education website, familydoctor.org.