The Maternal Care Crisis in America - Stories of Mistreatment during Pregnancy and Childbirth

As a Doctor of Public Health, I am troubled by the findings of a recent CDC survey on mistreatment during maternity care in the United States. The survey of 2,400 women exposes shortcomings in our country's maternal healthcare system.

The results show that 1 in 5 mothers reported being mistreated by healthcare providers during pregnancy and childbirth. This mistreatment included having health concerns dismissed or ignored, being shouted at or scolded, and having physical privacy violated. Disturbingly, women of color reported even higher rates of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, income level, and insurance status (Ars Technica, 2023).