Doulas and Cultural Competency: Addressing Arkansas’ Maternal Health Crisis through Community-Based Support

Community-based birthing companions such as doulas are playing a crucial role in addressing Arkansas’ maternal health crisis. These organizations, along with state agencies, hospitals, and other organizations, are working together to expand support for mothers throughout the birthing journey. Doulas are trained to offer physical, educational, and emotional support to pregnant and recently pregnant mothers, and their positive impacts are especially significant for women facing challenges like low incomes, lack of a partner, or language and cultural barriers.

According to ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson, doulas can help mitigate risks along the birthing journey to achieve better outcomes. It is important to use all available tools to promote successful outcomes for families. Research has shown that when patients’ race or ethnicity aligns with that of their healthcare providers, communication and healthcare utilization tend to improve. However, in Arkansas, mothers of color are unlikely to deliver with healthcare providers of the same race or ethnicity. This highlights the importance of ensuring access to culturally competent care in the state.

As part of these efforts, community groups and other organizations are working together to increase access to culturally competent care for mothers in need. This includes providing training for healthcare providers on cultural competency issues and increasing outreach efforts in underserved communities. Additionally, these organizations are working to address language barriers by providing translated materials and services whenever possible.

Overall, the focus on expanding support for mothers throughout the birthing journey is an important step towards improving maternal health outcomes in Arkansas. By utilizing community-based birthing companions such as doulas and ensuring access to culturally competent care for all women in need