Today’s guest editorial is by Sana Syed, MD, MPH, president and health policy and advocacy director at American Muslim Health Professionals.

As one of the richest and most powerful nations on earth, it is unacceptable that the U.S. continues to witness maternal mortality rates among the highest in the developed world. This alarming reality calls for a reassessment of priorities by all public health stakeholders.

Over 800 maternal deaths were recorded in 2022 in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, equating to a maternal mortality rate of 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. Black mothers suffered the highest mortality, at 49.5 per 100,000 live births. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also had disproportionately high death rates.

The stark numbers reveal the urgent need to overhaul the maternal health care system in this country, particularly for minority or disadvantaged populations, which is why public health stakeholders should endorse H.R. 959, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.

As health care and public health professionals, it is our responsibility to address disparities and prevent mortality across all communities. The Momnibus Act seeks to do this by directing multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health, especially among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans and other vulnerable populations.

The legislation employs a multi-faceted and evidence-based approach to resolve the inequities and root causes of maternal health disparities.

The act focuses on factors impacting maternal health by directly addressing the social determinants of health, promoting racial and cultural competence in health care delivery and more. The act also offers key investments in social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation and nutrition.

In addition, the act calls for improved surveillance and research of Black maternal deaths. Many aspects of maternal health, especially those affecting Black women, are underrepresented and undiagnosed. To better understand and improve maternal health in underrepresented communities, we need better data.

The American Muslim Health Professionals supports the Momnibus Act as a transformative step toward maternal health reform in the communities that need it most.

Soniza Khan, MPH, health policy and advocacy intern at American Muslim Health Professionals; Aroona Toor, MPH, a DrPH student at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health; and Samroz Jakvani, MPH, health policy and advocacy manager at American Muslim Health Professionals, also contributed to this article.

Photo by FG Trade, courtesy iStockphoto