Peer recovery doulas help fight pregnancy-related deaths
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released last month established that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States from 2017 to 2019 were preventable. “Mental health conditions” topped the list of leading underlying causes of death. The process of improving maternal health outcomes, especially for pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder, is a task that often requires a range of interventions – from increasing equity in healthcare access to providing legal advocacy services.A pilot program – launched in 2019 by the Illinois Department of Human Services has begun to take on that challenge.
Guest:
Darian Benson
Health Reporter, Side Effects Public Media / WFYI Public Media
Resource: IDHS: Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder
Substance use is one of the main drivers behind the nation’s high maternal mortality rate. States like Illinois hope peer recovery doulas – who have experience with addiction and support others in recovery – can help. https://t.co/a1MHWgzEBO (by @HelloImDarian of @wfyi)
— Side Effects Public Media (@SideEffectsNews) September 29, 2022
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