Maternal health is an important aspect of women’s health that refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal health includes the health of women before, during, and after childbirth, including the physical, emotional, and social well-being of women during this time.
Unfortunately, maternal mortality remains a significant issue, particularly for black women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the maternal mortality rate in the United States is 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, and black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This is a major public health issue that requires urgent attention and action.
In addition to maternal mortality, women also face other maternal health issues, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and complications during childbirth. These issues can have long-term consequences for both the mother and child, including developmental delays, chronic health problems, and even death.
To address these maternal health issues, it is important to improve access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, especially for women who are at higher risk of complications. This includes ensuring that women have access to affordable healthcare services, including routine check-ups, screenings, and immunizations. It is also important to provide education and support to women on topics such as healthy pregnancy, nutrition, and breastfeeding.
Overall, improving maternal health is critical for promoting the health and well-being of women and their families. By addressing the social, economic, and health-related factors that contribute to maternal mortality and morbidity, we can ensure that all women have the opportunity to achieve optimal maternal health outcomes.
HOW WE CAN HELP
At Independence.org, we are employing the latest decentralized technologies to create and provide a purpose-built advocacy platform for veterans. This shall ensure:
- Greater access to information: A decentralized platform can provide a centralized source of information about veterans’ benefits, eligibility criteria, and the claims process, making it easier for veterans to find the information they need to access the support they are entitled to.
- Increased transparency: A decentralized platform can provide greater transparency around the claims process, allowing veterans to track the status of their claim and receive updates on any changes or developments. This can help reduce anxiety and uncertainty for veterans, who may otherwise be left in the dark about the status of their claim.
- Improved collaboration: A decentralized platform can enable greater collaboration between veterans, advocates, and service providers, allowing for the sharing of knowledge, resources, and best practices. This can help ensure that veterans receive the most effective support possible and can help streamline the claims process.
- Decentralized decision-making: A decentralized platform can help ensure that decision-making around veterans’ benefits is more decentralized, with a greater role for veterans and advocates in shaping policy and practice. This can help ensure that veterans’ needs and perspectives are better reflected in decision-making, leading to more responsive and effective support.
- Increased efficiency: By providing a centralized hub for information and support, a decentralized platform can help reduce duplication, streamline processes, and reduce costs, leading to a more efficient and effective system for supporting veterans.
Independence.org aims to be a valuable advocacy platform for veterans, helping to improve access to information, increase transparency and collaboration, empower veterans and advocates to shape policy and practice, and increase the efficiency of the system.