Addressing health inequities in maternal and newborn care requires looking beyond the hospital walls. “Social Obstetrics” is an emerging framework that treats the social environment of an expectant mother as a critical component of her clinical care.
- Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: This approach links obstetricians with social workers, housing authorities, and community leaders to resolve non-medical issues like food insecurity or housing instability.
- Reducing Inequities: By focusing on the “social niche” of the patient, healthcare systems can reduce the high rates of preterm births and maternal mortality found in marginalized populations.
- Preventative Focus: Rather than just treating complications as they arise, social obstetrics aims to create a supportive environment that prevents those complications from occurring in the first place.