Episode 15: Maternal Mortality: A Modern Crisis: Part 2: Exploring Solutions

Fiftyfaces Focus Medicine and Science

In the US, every 12 hours a woman dies due to complications resulting from pregnancy. Additionally, 2 babies die each day. According to data from the national center for health statistics the maternal mortality rate for 2021 was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019 In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women (26.6) Rates for Black women were significantly higher than rates for White and Hispanic women. The increases from 2020 to 2021 for all race and Hispanic-origin groups were significant. In 2020 the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for a woman to give birth.
The first part of this series explored the nature of the problem - hearing from Maneesha Ghiya, the founder of FemHealth Ventures about her own birth experience that prompted a career-long devotion to women's health issues, as well as Yele Aluko, EY Americas Chief Medical Officer, director of the EY Center for Health Equity, Adonica Shaw, CEO and Founder of My Wing Women, an online community and resource center for women relating to reproductive and other health issues. Maura Rosenfeld, founder of digital health innovator - MindUp, provides her insights on the innovations and technology that can move the needle in alleviating this problem.
In part two we explore solutions to the problem, returning to our discussion with Yele Aluko to discuss some of the investments in alleviating inequity in the US medical landscape, and where disparities persist. Adonica Shaw then details the importance of community, shared experience, resources and education - all of which she is amplifying through My Wing Women.
This podcast is brought to you by Fiftyfaces Productions Limited. Fiftyfaces Productions Limited was founded in 2020 as a media company committed to amplifying diverse voices across a wide range of professions starting with finance and investment. Our mission is to highlight ideas and debate them, tear down stereotypes and ventilate a broad range of views. We believe that you can't be what you can't see and that you won't see what you don't support and amplify. In 2024 we are committed to ensuring progress towards the following UN SDGs:
⛰️SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing
⛰️SDG 4 Quality Education
⛰️SDG 5 Gender Equality
⛰️SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
⛰️SDG 9 Industry Innovation and Infrastructure
⛰️SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
⛰️SDG 13 Climate Action
This podcast series is part of our mission to spread awareness of women's health issues and to further SDG 3, 4, 5 and 10.