Diversifying Doulas Initiative: Improving Maternal Health Outcomes in People of Color Through Doula Care

Sharee Livingston; Cherise Hamblin; Crista Johnson; LaShekia Chatman; Kayla Bolden

doi:10.1089/heq.2023.0082

Diversifying Doulas Initiative: Improving Maternal Health Outcomes in People of Color Through Doula Care

Health Equity. 2024 Jul 1;8(1):455-460. doi: 10.1089/heq.2023.0082. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Sharee Livingston¹, Cherise Hamblin², Crista Johnson³, LaShekia Chatman⁴, Kayla Bolden⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA.
² Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.
³ UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
⁴ State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
⁵ CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Abstract

The Diversifying Doulas Initiative (DDI) aims to improve maternal health outcomes in Black and Brown people through doula care in Lancaster County. DDI trained 28 Black and Brown doulas and provided fully subsidized doula care to over 200 patients of color giving birth in Lancaster County. The perinatal workforce comprises community birth workers, doulas, midwives, nurses, students, and physicians. By diversifying the perinatal workforce and increasing access to doulas, patients of color benefit from a proven intervention.

Keywords: Dr. Cherise Hamblin; Dr. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu; Kayla Bolden; LaShekia Chatman.