Recent research highlights a concerning disparity in maternal health outcomes: Black women face significantly higher rates of pregnancy-related deaths compared to White women.
Alarmingly, over 80% of these deaths are preventable, underscoring a critical need for targeted interventions and improved healthcare access to address this grave issue.
Bridges to Prenatal Care
Last year, during Black Maternal Health Week 2022, Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) introduced the “Bridges to Prenatal Care” pilot program, specifically tailored for Black mothers. According to PPIL, the program was designed to offer care on the South and West sides of Chicago, areas known as “prenatal care deserts.”
The Bridges to Prenatal Care program provides various services to mothers, including:
- Initial prenatal lab work
- Gestational dating ultrasound
- Help finding full-service prenatal care providers
- Navigation and support connecting to wrap-around services (i.e. birthing classes, doulas, food assistance, etc.)
“We understand that accessing prenatal care can be challenging,” says PPIL in a statement. “We launched Bridges to Prenatal Care to provide early prenatal services and connect patients with care providers for the length of their pregnancy.”
This program is at four PPIL health centers in the Chicagoland area:
- Austin, 5937 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago
- Englewood, 6059 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago
- Roseland, 11250 S. Halsted Ave., Chicago
- Flossmoor, 19831 Governors Hwy., Flossmoor
For more information on any services or to make an appointment, you can visit ppil.org. You can also call PPIL at 877-200-PPIL.
