Addressing Systemic Racism in Birth Doula Services to Reduce Health Inequities in the United States

Authors: Marieke van Eijk, PhD | Grace Guenther, MPA | Paula Kett, PhD, MPH, BSN, IBCL | Andrew Jopson, MPH | Bianca Frogner, PhD | Susan Skillman, MS

Topics: Diversity, Emerging Models and Innovations, Health Workforce Models and Projections

Research Center: University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies

February 23, 2022

Birth doulas, who support pregnant women during the perinatal period, have positive impacts on pregnancy and birth outcomes, particularly among underserved populations. However, health workforce-related barriers challenge the development of robust doula services in the United States.

This article examines various approaches to train, recruit, and employ doulas, as well as what system-level changes are needed to address health inequities in underserved communities and expand access to birth doula services.

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University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies