New US partnership to address racial disparities in maternal health

The US maternal health company Cayaba Care has announced a partnership with the women’s healthcare group Axia to address health inequities and improve maternal health outcomes.

This announcement coincides with Black Maternal Health Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness and strengthening support for black maternal health.

The US has a higher maternal mortality rate than any other developed country. Research has shown the national maternal mortality rate has nearly doubled in the last three years, with black women being three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.

However, 80 per cent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, data has also suggested, highlighting the need for better access to care.

“At Axia Women’s Health, we are passionate about addressing these health disparities and improving the current state of maternal health in the United States. It’s time to move beyond awareness and into action in transforming care for those at highest risk,” said Dr Gaurov Dayal, Axia Women’s Health CEO.

“That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with organisations like Cayaba Care to help us bridge the gaps in care and better support those who had previously been underserved.”

Through this partnership, select Axia Women’s Health patients will gain access to the Cayaba Care programme that supports pregnant and recently pregnant women with in-home and virtual services.

The maternal health company provides services, including emotional and mental support, help with hospital appointments, symptom management and benefit navigation.

Additionally, the programme will give women access to a care team that includes registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, lactation consultants, and registered dietician nutritionists.

“As a black father and husband, I experienced firsthand that despite my family’s education and income, we still needed additional support in-between OB visits and during delivery,” said Dr Olan Soremekun, Cayaba Care co-founder and CEO.

“We founded Cayaba Care to be accessible and to provide every black woman the holistic support needed to achieve equity in maternal outcomes.”

Dr Mary Fleming, co-founder and senior VP of health equity accountability, said: “We are committed not only to helping each patient have a safe birth, but also a dignified and positive pregnancy journey that takes into account their overall long-term physical, mental, and emotional health.

“We commend the team at Axia Women’s Health for their focused efforts in this collaboration aimed at reducing racial disparities in maternal health, while improving access to care and promoting a positive patient experience.”

The programme will initially launch in Pennsylvania, as the two companies expand their impact to tackle racial disparities in underserved communities across the US.