A community-based policy approach to advance maternal & reproductive health research among minoritized birthing populations in the United States

Black and Brown maternal health disparities are rooted in historical health policies limiting power and reproductive decision-making in the United States. From anti-Black racism in the field of obstetrics and gynecology and policies such as the Sheppard–Towner Act of 1921 in the American South, to xenophobia through the forced sterilization of non-English speaking mothers in the 20th and 21st centuries, there is a clear link between health policy and minoritized maternal health outcomes. In an effort to advance research and analysis of these policies, the Maternal and Child Health Policy Unit at the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice (CBMHRJ) has launched a series of initiatives in the Greater Boston Area. From working alongside undergraduate student advocates on informed voting campaigns to community-engaged research among immigrant parents in the local area, the Policy Unit aims to mobilize the development of policies that further reproductive health justice and equity. (author abstract) #P4HEwebinarOctober2024