Project Summary:
Despite the U.S.'s high spending on maternity care, maternal mortality continues to rise, with Black mothers facing disproportionate risks. In Wisconsin, 2021 data shows infant mortality rates were three times higher for Black births compared to non-Hispanic whites, with Black infants representing 23% of infant deaths while comprising less than 10% of total births. Research demonstrates that food insecurity during pregnancy triples the risk of premature birth, while community-based doula support significantly improves birth outcomes. However, the average career of a community-based doula of color is only three years due to burnout, administrative burdens, and low compensation.
Doula Village Milwaukee will implement a comprehensive support program for community-based doulas serving Black families in Southeastern Wisconsin. The project will provide biweekly stock boxes of fresh and shelf-stable food, culturally tailored meals during and after births, and doula survival bags. Through partnerships with an established food pantry and MCW, the initiative will create a sustainable support network that addresses both doula burnout and food insecurity among families. Preliminary data shows promising results, with doula-supported births demonstrating lower rates of low birth weight and higher percentages of full-term births.
This innovative approach aims to create a comprehensive, sustainable model of community support that simultaneously addresses public health improvement and health workforce development. By reducing burnout among community-based doulas while increasing their capacity to serve Black families, the project seeks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The initiative will collect and analyze data on doula burnout, client outcomes, and program effectiveness to develop an evidence-based model that can be tested through future research and potentially scaled to other communities facing similar maternal health disparities.
Community Partners: The African American Breastfeeding Network, Nourish MKE