Dr. Katilya Ware, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, received a proclamation in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–17) from the City of Opelika at the City Council Meeting held on April 4, 2023. Pictured from left to right are faith-based leader/community partner Rev. Michael Burton, Dr. Ware and Mayor Gary Fuller.
Engaging African American women in the south in Patient-Centered Maternal Health Research is a subject close to Dr. Ware’s heart. Pregnancy-related deaths (PRDs) in the United States rank higher than other developed nations, despite the decades of efforts placed into improving maternal health outcomes. The United States is also the only developed county to see maternal mortality rates rising. (Alabama has the sixth-highest maternal mortality rate in the United States of 36.6 per 100,000. Other states with higher rates are Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, and Arkansas. Missouri, Texas, South Carolina, Arizona and the remaining states have rates lower than Alabama.)
Stressing the importance of the postpartum period, Ware said that more than 40% of women do not attend their postpartum visit. “Deaths are often higher in the period after 6 weeks and up to 365 days after delivery which could be related to the lack of follow-up,” she added.
Ware is working on a project funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to build the capacity of African American (AA) women, family members, faith-based leaders, and clinicians for PCOR/CER in maternal health. She hopes to build a consortium of AA women, family members, faith-based leaders, and clinicians in Alabama. The project will also provide guidelines to train AA women and other stakeholders living in Alabama to effectively engage in future PCOR/CER in maternal health and create a prioritized agenda that is meaningful to AA women and their family members living in Alabama.
To increase awareness during Black Maternal Health Week, Ware engaged in activities in surrounding communities. On April 13th, she hosted a Canvas Talk session in which Dr. Nana Bentum provided education to attendees. Following the educational session, participants engaged in an art activity. On April 14th a public viewing of the documentary “Aftershock” was exhibited to increase awareness on maternal health outcomes in African American women.
