A number of our MCH students attended the 2021 CityMatCH conference, online in December. What follows is a post from one of the attendees.
By Boyani Moikobu, BS
I became interested in maternal and child health due to the maternal health disparities present in the U.S. I had my own personal experience with this in 2018 when a family member went into labor and had unexpected complications with labor due to hypertension that had been ignored by her doctors during her pregnancy. As stressful as that situation was, one can imagine that giving birth during the pandemic must have been incredibly difficult. With many women having to face the added stress of COVID-19 while dealing with the stress of pregnancy, I found this seminar Birthing in a Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 On Pregnancy and Postpartum Experiences particularly compelling during CityMatCH.
Black women are more likely to suffer complications during pregnancy and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the disparities present, as vaccination rates are lowest in Black and Hispanic communities. Black women who are pregnant are 4x more likely than white women to have COVID-19. This is troubling, as pregnant people who become infected with COVID have a higher likelihood of stillbirth. Although a study was published in early 2021 stating that the vaccine was safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, outreach and access have been low in rural and non-white communities.
I was interested to learn about the What to Expect Project, an organization that provides expecting mothers with the help and knowledge needed to ensure a successful pregnancy. The What to Expect Project surveyed pregnant and postpartum mothers to understand how likely pregnant people were to receive the COVID vaccine. Of the women surveyed, 45% reported that they were not vaccinated. One individual-level intervention would include integrating prenatal care health workers (PCHW) into communities to educate mothers in vulnerable populations on the importance of receiving the vaccine. Although individual interventions are not enough to solve maternal health disparities, this is a much-needed start as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boyani Moikobu, BS, is a first-year MPH student, concentrating in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences with a certificate in Maternal & Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2023 and hopes to work as a Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator. Her interests include mental health, health disparities, and women’s health. In her free time, she loves reading, shopping, and spending time with her friends and family.
