In an effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, the Birthworkers of Color Collective launched a series of community outreach sessions aimed at connecting expectant and postpartum mothers with support services. A session was held on Aug. 30 at the Mangilao Community Center where organizers provided information on doula care and distributed resources.
Doulas, also known as birthworkers, provide emotional, physical, and educational support to women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Organizers said the outreach sessions connected expectant mothers with information, professional support, and culturally sensitive care. “Doula care has proven to be successful as a nonmedical intervention to help lower maternal and infant mortality rates,” said Jayne Flores, BWA director in an Aug 13 release.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Guam’s crude infant mortality rate from 2018 to 2022 was twice that of the United States. Maternal mortality rates on Guam also remained high and followed national trends of increases over the past decade. BWOCC President and CEO Stevie Merino noted that doulas have been shown to improve birth experiences for women and families, emphasizing that such support has been practiced for centuries.
More outreach is planned throughout September and October. Organizers emphasized that doulas provide emotional, educational, and physical support during pregnancy and postpartum, and that representation in birth advocacy — particularly for communities of color — plays a vital role in improving health outcomes.
