Doulas supporting pregnant women in New York City as part of the Doula Initiative.
New York City’s Doula Initiative made strides in supporting 1,128 pregnant women in 2024, focusing on addressing racial disparities in maternal health. Launched in 2022 with a $4 million budget, the program offers free doula services, aiming to improve pregnancy outcomes, particularly for women of color. The initiative has reported encouraging results, including reduced maternal death rates and increased access to vital support for marginalized communities. City leaders are committed to ongoing efforts to enhance maternal health in New York City.
New York City has reported significant progress in its Citywide Doula Initiative, which provided support to 1,128 pregnant women in 2024. Launched in 2022, the initiative aims to tackle racial disparities in maternal health, particularly affecting women of color and those from low-income neighborhoods. The program surpassed its 2024 goal of serving 1,000 pregnant women and has now assisted over 3,200 individuals since its inception.
Funded with a $4 million budget, the Citywide Doula Initiative offers free access to doulas, who are non-medical support providers during pregnancy and childbirth. Doulas in the program are compensated up to $1,600 for each birth, which is notably higher than Medicaid payments yet remains significantly lower than private sector fees, which can reach up to $5,000.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy by the city to improve pregnancy outcomes for women of color. Current data reveal that Black women in New York City experience a maternal death rate four times higher than that of their white counterparts. To combat this alarming trend, the program has yielded promising early indicators, such as reduced rates of C-sections and early births among Black and Hispanic participants during its initial year. Notably, no maternal deaths have been recorded among clients since the initiative began.
In 2024, the demographic makeup of the program’s clients showed that 61% self-identified as Black, while 44% identified as Hispanic or Latina. Additionally, around 22% of clients were non-English speakers. The data further reveals ongoing racial disparities in access to doula services. Although Black women accounted for 17% of all births last year, they represented a mere 16% of births with doula support. Meanwhile, the percentage of births supported by doulas varied significantly by borough, with only 2% of births in Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx receiving such assistance compared to 10% in Brooklyn.
New York City aims to reduce maternal deaths among Black women by 10% over the next five years as part of its HealthyNYC campaign. This goal is underscored by concerning statistics from 2020, which indicated 51 pregnancy-associated deaths in the city, nearly half of which occurred among Black women.
As the city continues to assess the program’s impact, a recent government audit revealed a 77% satisfaction rate among participants. Furthermore, the initiative has shown improved maternal health outcomes, particularly among Black and Hispanic mothers and their babies. Discussion is underway in the New York City Council about potential legislation to establish a permanent doula service program targeting marginalized neighborhoods, spearheaded by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez.
Zahirah McNatt from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has underscored the pressing need to address racial inequities in maternal healthcare, emphasizing the critical role the Doula Initiative plays in supporting vulnerable populations. As the initiative moves forward, city leaders remain committed to implementing effective solutions that ensure the health and well-being of all mothers and their newborns.
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