In Missouri, the urgency of addressing maternal and infant health inequities is undeniable. Between 2018 and 2022, 350 women died while pregnant or within one year postpartum — an average of 70 deaths per year — and about 80% of those deaths were determined to be preventable.[1] During this period, the state’s pregnancy-related mortality ratio was 32.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, with Black women facing a rate 2.5 times higher than White women.[1]
In St. Louis, the disparities are even more striking. Black women in the region experience pregnancy-associated death rates about three times those of White women, and Black infants are three times more likely to die in their first year of life than White infants.[2]
These are not just statistics — they represent lives cut short and families forever changed by inequities that are systemic and preventable. Structural racism, barriers to care, and bias in the healthcare system persist regardless of income or education, showing that maternal and infant health is inseparable from the broader fight for racial and gender justice.
At YWCA Metro St. Louis, we meet mothers at this intersection every day. Our Award-Winning Prenatal Services program provides wraparound support throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period.[3] This includes health education; assistance navigating insurance and appointments; referrals for nutrition and mental health care; and coordination with OB/GYNs, doulas, and hospitals. We also offer tangible support like baby essentials and transportation assistance, recognizing that these needs often determine whether mothers can maintain consistent care. Our services are guided by cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed practices to ensure mothers feel respected, heard, and supported.
As LaWanda Jones, Prenatal Services Administrator, explains: “Many of the mothers we serve already know what they need to stay healthy — what they’re up against are the barriers in their way, like transportation, food insecurity, housing, or navigating a complicated healthcare system. Our role is to help reduce those barriers and make sure they don’t feel alone in the process.”
Delivering justice in maternal and infant health means acting on multiple levels: ensuring respectful, quality care in clinics and hospitals; strengthening partnerships between medical providers and community-based organizations; and advocating for policies that extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, expand access to doulas and peer support, and provide safe, stable housing for families. It also means centering mothers’ voices when shaping solutions that directly impact their lives.
YWCA is committed to leading this change — through direct services that reduce disparities, partnerships that improve healthcare delivery, and advocacy that drives systems reform. But lasting progress requires all of us. You can join this effort by donating to support maternal health and crisis services, joining our Giving Club for sustained impact, and signing up for our newsletter to stay engaged in advocacy and action. Together, we can ensure every mother and every infant in our community has the safe, healthy beginning they deserve.
[1] 2018-2022 Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. 2025.
[2] Cunningham K. Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality in Saint Louis Presentation. Health Resources & Services Administration. 2024.
[3] YWCA Metro St. Louis. Prenatal Services Team Honored with 2025 Dr. Corrine Walentik Provider/Practitioner Champion Award. 2025
ABOUT YWCA:
YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children, serving more than 10,000 women and families annually. The mission of YWCA is eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA offers crisis services and rapid re-housing for victims of sexual and domestic violence; services for pregnant women, Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education; career readiness and economic empowerment services for all clients; and racial justice educational programs.