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OLO report: Black mothers, infants in Montgomery County face worse outcomes; committee asks HHS for 60‑day action plan
Summary
The Office of Legislative Oversight presented evidence that Black mothers and infants in Montgomery County experience higher rates of severe maternal morbidity, preterm birth, low birth weight and infant mortality; the HHS Committee asked the Department of Health and Human Services to deliver a written action plan within 60 days with timelines, budgets and metrics.
The Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight presented a report on racial disparities in maternal and infant health to the Health and Human Services Committee on Feb. 20, finding Black mothers and infants in the county face consistently worse outcomes across multiple measures.
Natalia Carrizosa of OLO summarized national and local evidence, saying the United States "has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high income country in the world," and that Black and Indigenous mothers and babies experience the most adverse outcomes. OLO identified three drivers of racial disparities: the historical legacy of racist pseudoscience, contemporary medical racism (including biased treatment and care barriers), and structural determinants of health.
Chitra (OLO) presented county…
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