Month Commemorating Breastfeeding: Focus on Black Maternal Health Issues
In Harris County, Texas, a significant focus is placed on addressing health inequities in maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly for Black mothers and infants.
The Maternal & Child Health Program by Harris County Public Health is a key initiative, offering free services aimed at maternal and child health. This includes breastfeeding support specifically targeted to counteract socio-economic inequities affecting Black maternal health. For more information, you can contact them via phone at 713-368-MOMS (6667) or email at [email protected].
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program also provides breastfeeding resources. A dedicated Breastfeeding Helpline (713-407-5898) is available weekdays from 8 AM to 9 PM, and email support is available at [email protected].
ACCESS Harris County, an integrated care-coordination model, is another crucial resource. Focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations, it addresses multiple needs of clients, including maternal health support. Harris County Public Library partners with ACCESS to serve the county's most vulnerable community members.
Community-engaged maternal health research and partnerships seek to understand and address barriers faced by Black mothers in Harris County through culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions. These efforts aim to close gaps in prenatal care, mental health support, and healthcare access for high-risk populations.
Awareness and advocacy initiatives, such as Black Maternal Health Week, raise awareness about racial inequities impacting Black birthing parents. Harris County Public Health promotes such events to highlight challenges and mobilize resources.
Collectively, these programs provide free or low-cost maternal and breastfeeding support designed to serve Black mothers in Harris County by integrating healthcare, community resources, culturally informed care, and research-driven approaches.
Ongoing efforts include trauma-informed perinatal care and leadership development among Black nurses, which contribute to improving maternal outcomes culturally and structurally, although these specific programs may be outside Harris County but indicate broader advocacy trends.
For direct support or engagement, the Harris County Public Health contacts for breastfeeding and maternal health are critical access points. It's important to note that breastmilk offers enhanced immunity and antibodies to fight some illnesses, reducing the risk of infection for babies. Breastmilk provides optimal nutrition for most babies and is easier to digest than formula for most babies.
For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, there is a resource called Feed the Baby. Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother, including reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
In the past decade, pregnant women in Texas have been ten percent more likely than the rest of the nation to suffer from severe pregnancy-related difficulties; in Harris County, the rate is nearly fifty percent. Black mothers are also twice as likely to lose an infant within the first year. Maternal morbidity (rate of illness/disease) and mortality (rate of death) are disturbingly high across Texas, but especially in Harris County.
It's a crucial time for action, and these initiatives in Harris County are a significant step towards addressing these health disparities and improving outcomes for Black mothers and infants.
- The Maternal & Child Health Program by Harris County Public Health offers free services aimed at women's health, including breastfeeding support for Black mothers, which is a key initiative to address health-and-wellness inequities in Harris County.
- The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, along with a dedicated Breastfeeding Helpline, provides valuable resources for women's health and breastfeeding support, particularly for Black mothers in Harris County, contributing to the broader efforts for health equity in the community.
