Maternal Health in the US
AN AIUSA REPORT
As part of its work on the right to health, Amnesty International is focusing on the issue of maternal mortality. Globally the numbers are staggering: one woman dies every minute. In the US, 2-3 women die of pregnancy-related complications every day, and African American women are 3 times more likely to die than white women. According to the CDC, a government public health agency, at least half of these deaths could have been prevented if women had better access to adequate quality healthcare.
WOMEN, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, CAREGIVERS: Amnesty is looking to document cases that reflect general patterns and problems in the health care system, specifically relating to a difficult pregnancy, problems during labor & delivery, or maternal death. For instance, problems with:
We’re looking for your perspectives, your recommendations to affect real change. Any information provided to us will be kept completely confidential, unless you tell us otherwise. If you’re willing to share your experience, please contact: |
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This report’s primary aim is to address maternal mortality in the US as a human rights issue. Preventable maternal deaths may be linked to violations of a number of human rights, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the right to life, and the right to freedom from discrimination. Authorities in the USA have an obligation under international human rights law to ensure that health services are available, accessible, acceptable and of adequate quality for the entire population on the basis of non-discrimination.
Amnesty International researchers are gathering information on a broad range of factors that may directly and indirectly affect maternal deaths - including access to affordable health care, language or other barriers, the quality of care, poverty and discrimination, informed consent, and accountability on a systemic level. We are interested in documenting the experiences of women from a wide variety of communities, including women of color, immigrant women (both documented and undocumented), and low income women.
The final report will provide an overview of the issues that affect maternal health in the United States. Additionally, the report will make a series of concrete recommendations to the US government based on input provided by women and their families, experts, advocates, health care workers, and service providers, and will form the basis of campaigning and activism.
