A week dedicated to raising awareness, promoting equity, and improving outcomes for black mothers
This week, the International Doula Institute (IDI) joins the global community in celebrating Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW). This annual event, observed from April 11-17, aims to raise awareness about the disparities in maternal health outcomes for black mothers and advocate for policies and practices that improve these outcomes. International Doula Institute is committed to promoting equity in maternal health care and empowering black mothers through education, advocacy, and support.
Black Maternal Health Week was established in 2018 by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), a black women-led organization focused on maternal health, rights, and justice. The week serves as a platform to amplify the voices of black mothers and advocates, raise awareness about the significant disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote solutions to address these inequities.
Black mothers in the United States are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white mothers, with similar disparities observed in other countries. These disparities are rooted in systemic racism, bias, and unequal access to quality health care. Black Maternal Health Week is an essential opportunity to draw attention to these issues and work collectively toward solutions.
International Doula Institute’s Initiatives
As a leading educational institution in the field of doula training and support, the International Doula Institute is taking several steps to promote equity and improve maternal health outcomes for black mothers:
- Education and Training
IDI is actively working to incorporate anti-racism and cultural competence training into its doula certification programs. This training aims to educate future doulas on the unique challenges faced by black mothers and equip them with the skills needed to provide culturally sensitive and equitable support.
- Scholarship Programs
IDI has established scholarship programs to increase access to doula education for black women, promoting diversity within the doula profession and ensuring that more black mothers have access to culturally competent care.
- Community Outreach
IDI is collaborating with local and national organizations to provide prenatal education and doula support services to black mothers in underserved communities, with the goal of improving maternal health outcomes and reducing disparities.
- Advocacy
The International Doula Institute is using its platform to amplify the voices of black mothers, joining the call for policy changes that will address the root causes of maternal health disparities and improve access to quality health care for all mothers.
The International Doula Institute is proud to be part of the global effort to improve maternal health outcomes for black mothers during Black Maternal Health Week and beyond. By promoting awareness, providing education, and advocating for change, IDI aims to make a lasting impact on the lives of black mothers and their families. Together, we can work towards a more equitable and just future for all mothers.
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...