Improving Maternal Mortality Begins with the Maternal Health Bill of Rights
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By StoryStudio on April 25, 2025
What is the Maternal Health Bill of Rights?
The United States faces an escalating maternal health crisis that demands immediate action. Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with approximately 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the CDC. These statistics reveal a healthcare system that often fails to protect women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
The crisis is particularly severe for people of color, who face significantly higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, regardless of education level or socioeconomic status. This disparity reflects deeply rooted systemic inequities in healthcare access, quality of care, and medical bias.
In Harris County, the statistics are every bit as alarming. Harris County’s pregnancy-related death rate has been consistently higher than the U.S. rate since 2016. In 2020, Harris County’s pregnancy-related death rate increased from 31.65 per 100,000 live births (2019) to a staggering 54.85 per 100,000 live births. Black, non-Hispanic women had the highest pregnancy-related death rate among all racial and ethnic groups (83.4 per 100,000 live births).
“All expectant parents deserve to understand their rights and know what resources are available to them," says Harris County Public Health Interim Executive Director Leah Barton. "The Harris County Maternal Health Bill of Rights is designed to empower families with critical knowledge before, during, and after pregnancy."
All expectant parents deserve to understand their rights and know what resources are available to them.
Leah Barton, Harris County Public Health Interim Executive Director
For Optimal Maternal Health, Accessibility Is Key
The MHBoR and all related materials are available in the top six languages—English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Arabic—ensuring accessibility for individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This multi-language approach is a crucial aspect of making these resources available to those who need them most, as it removes language barriers and fosters inclusivity. By providing the Bill of Rights in multiple languages, Harris County Public Health acknowledges the importance of reaching a broad audience and promoting understanding for all community members.
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The Maternal Health Bill of Rights is both practical and aspirational. It signals the trajectory of a county struggling to provide a safe environment for its birthing population toward a brighter tomorrow. By implementing the MHBoR on the provider side and increasing awareness of the MHBoR on the mother's or pregnant woman's side, we hope for a sharp decline in maternal mortality. Ultimately, healthier, happier newborns will one day live in a county where a Maternal Bill of Rights is no longer necessary.
To learn more about the Harris County Maternal Bill of Rights, explore frequently asked questions, or discover how to get involved, visit mhbor.hctx.net.
A Vision for the Future
Harris County healthcare providers already have a responsibility to incorporate the elements of the MHBoR into their care. Change begins with mindset. By fostering a culture that values respect, fairness, and top-notch care for all mothers, pregnant women, and families, healthcare providers will help pregnant individuals make informed decisions about their pregnancy and their newborn's health, free from coercion or discrimination. In turn, this should improve the county’s maternal mortality rate, making Harris County a safer place to be a parent.
The MHBoR acts as a roadmap for providers to follow. The MHBoR breaks down provider care into helpful subcategories and then describes associated rights. For example, the Prenatal Care and Family Planning section guarantees mothers, pregnant women, and their families:
• Full and clear information about the benefits, risks, and costs of any procedure, drug, test, or treatment
• All your questions are answered before you decide about your healthcare.
• An interpreter if you do not speak English
• To receive full advance information about the risks and benefits of reasonably available methods for relieving pain during labor and birth, including methods that do not require the use of drugs
• Providers who are trained and skilled in current best practices for care during pregnancy and childbirth
• Among many other rights
The MHBoR details a wide range of other rights while offering best practices to providers in areas including breastfeeding, caregiver/partner support, delivery types and settings, potential pregnancy complications, postpartum services, benefits, and legal implications. For a full examination, visit https://mhbor.harriscountytx.gov/Maternal-Health-Bill-of-Rights/Healthcare-Providers
The goal is to foster clear communication and transparency between providers and patients, ensuring timely, respectful care that protects the health and rights of both mother and newborn. By highlighting the importance of timely, thorough care before, during, and after pregnancy—with attention to both physical and emotional well-being—the MHBoR strives to help patients and providers work together toward improved outcomes for parents and infants.
The Role of Healthcare Providers
Learn more about the Harris County Maternal Bill of Rights
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Sponsored by Harris County Public Health
A Maternal Health Bill of Rights is a document that outlines the rights of mothers and pregnant women regarding their healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It makes sure that those giving birth get treated fairly, respectfully, and with good-quality care: that they have control over their own decisions, are treated with dignity, and their health and happiness are looked after throughout the whole process of having a baby.
Harris County’s MHBoR states that:
1. You have the fundamental right to comprehensive and transparent information about your healthcare options, including the benefits, risks, and costs associated with procedures, medications, and treatments.
2. Your decisions are to be respected without coercion, ensuring that you are fully empowered to choose the path that aligns with your values, beliefs, and cultural background.
3. You have the right to a supportive environment where your choices regarding breastfeeding, infant care, and postpartum support are honored and facilitated. Your health and rights are our priority.
Additionally, the Bill of Rights is offered in a convenient foldable Z-card format, designed to be easily carried and always accessible. This practical format helps ensure that individuals always have the information they need as a quick reference, reinforcing the commitment to making vital resources available in ways that are both accessible and useful to everyone.
A Maternal Health Bill of Rights is a document that outlines the rights of mothers and pregnant women regarding their healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It makes sure that those giving birth get treated fairly, respectfully, and with good-quality care: that they have control over their own decisions, are treated with dignity, and their health and happiness are looked after throughout the whole process of having a baby.
Harris County’s MHBoR states that:
1. You have the fundamental right to comprehensive and transparent information about your healthcare options, including the benefits, risks, and costs associated with procedures, medications, and treatments.
2. Your decisions are to be respected without coercion, ensuring that you are fully empowered to choose the path that aligns with your values, beliefs, and cultural background.
3. You have the right to a supportive environment where your choices regarding breastfeeding, infant care, and postpartum support are honored and facilitated. Your health and rights are our priority.
The MHBoR and all related materials are available in the top six languages—English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Arabic—ensuring accessibility for individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This multi-language approach is a crucial aspect of making these resources available to those who need them most, as it removes language barriers and fosters inclusivity. By providing the Bill of Rights in multiple languages, Harris County Public Health acknowledges the importance of reaching a broad audience and promoting understanding for all community members.
Additionally, the Bill of Rights is offered in a convenient foldable Z-card format, designed to be easily carried and always accessible. This practical format helps ensure that individuals always have the information they need as a quick reference, reinforcing the commitment to making vital resources available in ways that are both accessible and useful to everyone.
Harris County healthcare providers already have a responsibility to incorporate the elements of the MHBoR into their care. Change begins with mindset. By fostering a culture that values respect, fairness, and top-notch care for all mothers, pregnant women, and families, healthcare providers will help pregnant individuals make informed decisions about their pregnancy and their newborn's health, free from coercion or discrimination. In turn, this should improve the county’s maternal mortality rate, making Harris County a safer place to be a parent.
The MHBoR acts as a roadmap for providers to follow. The MHBoR breaks down provider care into helpful subcategories and then describes associated rights. For example, the Prenatal Care and Family Planning section guarantees mothers, pregnant women, and their families:
• Full and clear information about the benefits, risks, and costs of any procedure, drug, test, or treatment
• All your questions are answered before you decide about your healthcare.
• An interpreter if you do not speak English
• To receive full advance information about the risks and benefits of reasonably available methods for relieving pain during labor and birth, including methods that do not require the use of drugs
• Providers who are trained and skilled in current best practices for care during pregnancy and childbirth
• Among many other rights
The MHBoR details a wide range of other rights while offering best practices to providers in areas including breastfeeding, caregiver/partner support, delivery types and settings, potential pregnancy complications, postpartum services, benefits, and legal implications. For a full examination, visit https://mhbor.harriscountytx.gov/Maternal-Health-Bill-of-Rights/Healthcare-Providers
The goal is to foster clear communication and transparency between providers and patients, ensuring timely, respectful care that protects the health and rights of both mother and newborn. By highlighting the importance of timely, thorough care before, during, and after pregnancy—with attention to both physical and emotional well-being—the MHBoR strives to help patients and providers work together toward improved outcomes for parents and infants.
