FIGHTING MATERNAL MORTALITY: INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF ARCHITECTURE ON WOMENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Abstract

Every year 700 women die of pregnancy related complications in the United States and it is estimated that half of these deaths are preventable. The maternal mortality rate (MMR), in the US is steadily rising. Making Newark, NJ (home of Rutgers University and Hospital) an ideal site for investigation.This thesis seeks to explore how the use of community based and empathetic design, providing equitable access to nature, and life cycle planning strategies could improve care and redefine how we think about women’s health care in the United States. To understand the complex topic of Maternal Mortality exploration into medical history, healthcare practices, the statistics surrounding Maternal Mortality Rate, and Postpartum Depression are necessary. While architecture alone cannot fix the problem of maternal mortality in the United States, reimagining the spaces in which care is provided to mothers can provide a framework for changing our cultural beliefs and attitudes toward women’s health and wellness.