Examining Contributors to Black Maternal Health Experiences in Prince George's County, Maryland

Abstract

Black women in the United States face a maternal mortality rate three times that of white women, a disparity mirrored in Prince George’s County, Maryland (Hoyert, 2023; Maryland Department of Health, 2022). In 2019, the Prince George’s County Health Department reported that between 2008 and 2017, Black, non-Hispanic mothers experienced the highest pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate (37.4 deaths per 100,000 live births) in the county (“Maternal Infant and Health Report,” 2019). This study explores how maternal access to healthcare and provider cultural competency training influence maternal health disparities in Prince George’s County. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research team surveyed and interviewed two key populations: Black mothers ages 18-34, residing in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and maternal health providers practicing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. By examining patient-provider interactions and gaps in medical education, this research aims to inform policy and curricular reforms to improve Black maternal health outcomes.