Wish TV 8: Access Challenges for Maternal Healthcare in Indiana

The article below was published by Wish TV 8. Read the original article here. 

Many new and expecting mothers in the Hoosier state face a unique challenge. Nearly a quarter of Indiana counties are considered maternal healthcare deserts.

Many women struggle to access essential services during pregnancy and childbirth. Systemic barriers range from inadequate insurance coverage to simple transportation issues.

“The fact that we have the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the country is unconscionable,” said Tamara Winfrey-Harris, the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana president. “I think moms and babies in our state deserve better.”

According to the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, many women, especially those from Black and Latino communities, encounter systemic barriers blocking them from necessary care and raising questions about the accessibility and quality of care provided in Indiana.

“Around half of Black and Latino mothers don’t get access to first-trimester care,” Winfrey-Harris said.

Winfrey-Harris says the most significant factor in maternal healthcare access is insurance coverage.

“We know that 85% of maternal deaths are preventable. But that won’t happen when moms aren’t getting good pre- and postpartum care,” Winfrey-Harris said.

In response to some of these challenges, advocates are pushing for initiatives to enhance maternal healthcare access throughout the state. One such initiative is the Women and Health Giving Fund, which uses grant dollars to fund easily accessible maternal care.

“More than 50 doctors, nurses, doulas, and therapists, including IU Health, came together to raise and award $260,000 in grants to support reproductive and mental healthcare,” Winfrey-Harris said.

Organizations working to combat these issues are tailoring their efforts to assist underserved populations. Exodus Refugee and Just Community Inc. provide culturally competent care to ensure that all women in Indiana can experience a safe and healthy pregnancy.

“One way to show we care about mothers is to care about this issue and speak up about it,” Winfrey-Harris said.

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Please note: You may notice our former name in this content, as this piece was published before Women’s Fund of Central Indiana became Women’s Foundation of Indiana. Learn more about our evolution »