Supporting Maternal Mortality Prevention in Indian Country

The purpose of this project is to strengthen public health systems and services in Indian Country that aim to expand our knowledge about maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) and to aid in creating a space for amplifying tribal voices in existing systems and formative assessment to inform ways of improving maternal health in a tribally-led way.

This project’s approach will implement the following strategies: Strategy 1) Implement foundation public health capabilities to strengthen the ability to conduct assessment/surveillance, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies; develop and support policies, communications, community partnerships, organizational competencies, and accountability and performance management and, Strategy 2) Implementing public health programs and services to strengthen the ability to comprehensively meet tribal public health needs.

All objective and activities outlined for this project will help to raise awareness of maternal warning signs, learning about maternal health priorities of AI/AN communities and promoting maternal mortality prevention strategies with AI/AN communities:

Objectives to meet Strategic Areas:

1. Build tribal and non-tribal partnerships for improved maternal health outcomes within Indian country and explore the role of tribally-led MMRCs for our area.
2. Identify, assess, and document programmatic and policy barriers and/or opportunities for strengthening maternal health data and surveillance activities to inform maternal health improvement.

Activities to meet these objectives include:

1. Create, expand, and disseminate culturally relevant educational materials on maternal warning signs such as the CDC Hear Her campaign materials.
2. Conduct other partnership meetings and convenings to continue to explore the role of a tribally-led MMRC for our area.
3. Recruit both tribal and nontribal regional partners through attendance at local tribal health events, regional and national events, and using recommendations from existing partners.
4. Identify, assess, and document currently available data and document gaps related to information on maternal health and wellbeing, including maternal morbidity and mortality among the communities within the Southern Plains region.
5. Assess the challenges and barriers in reporting maternal mortality, providing health services, and policy barriers that will be central to determining the feasibility of tribally-led MMRCs within the Southern Plains region.