Advancing Maternal Health as a Human Rights Issue

Maternal health care is the care provided to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and up to 42 days after childbirth. Viewing maternal health as a human right means that government and society protect the rights and ability of women to access essential health services free of hurdles, coercion, violence, or discrimination. Equitable care is culturally competent, aligned with the woman’s wishes and needs, ensures her safety, and contributes to improved physical and mental outcomes for both the mother and child. Emphasizing the right of all individuals to have safe and dignified reproductive experiences are an integral part of advancing health equity and improving maternal health outcomes.

Furthermore, reproductive justice extends beyond access to healthcare. It encompasses the economic, social, and political conditions necessary for individuals to make independent decisions about their reproductive lives. A reproductive justice framework acknowledges issues such as race, class, and gender, recognizing that disparities in maternal health outcomes are often rooted in historic inequalities. Ensuring health equity in maternal health also means supporting the social determinants that contribute to healthy pregnancies and childbirth experiences.