In 2019, GRAAHI published a comprehensive scoping review of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity in the Black and African American community. The data revealed that Kent County, the fourth-largest county by population in Michigan, reported the Black infant mortality rate “was significantly higher than the White infant mortality rate throughout the decade from 2010-2020” (Brown, et. al., 2022). The Kent County Fetal Infant Mortality Review team developed a complimentary report called, “Celebrating More First Birthdays”. In this report, the zip code 49507 had the highest infant mortality rate, with 49509, 49503, 49508, and 49548 ranking the highest infant mortality in Kent County. The highest causation of these deaths within these specific zip codes revealed that “. Black and Hispanic infants most commonly died of prenatal issues which are most likely attributed to the health of the mother during pregnancy.” (VanScoy, 2024).

The Black Womb Workers is GRAAHI’s Doula Initiative to support the closure of social determinants, such as racism, implicit bias, and socioeconomic status, that negatively impact birth outcomes for birthing individuals and babies. Doulas are trained birth professionals who help individuals have positive birth experiences by providing non-clinical emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after birth. Studies show that doulas improve social determinants of health, support equity, decrease existing health and racial disparities in infant and maternal health, and ultimately, improve birth outcomes for both baby and birthing individuals.

GRAAHI acknowledges how social determinants of health impact how birthing individuals navigate the healthcare system and how critical advocacy and education are in developing equities for Black and African American Infant and Maternal Health. From 2016-2021, the leading cause of infant death was prenatal care, and social determinants of health created a disproportionate burden of loss for maternal health.