The Crisis of Maternal Mortality 

Pregnancy should be a time of joy and anticipation, but for far too many Black women, it comes with significant, often fatal, risks. Over 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths could be prevented with the right changes and equitable patient care, according to the CDC (SOURCE).  

In 2023, the CDC also reported that Black women are 200 to 300 percent more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.  

This devastating statistic is due to multiple factors, often linked to the social determinants of health: Education Access and Quality; Health Care and Quality; Neighborhood and Built Environment; Social and Community Context; and Economic Stability.  

At the McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life, we are fighting for change and equity, one partnership at a time.  

We believe we can utilize programming and physical space at our new headquarters to work to address maternal health in the Upstate of South Carolina.  

Facing a crisis like maternal mortality rates requires a comprehensive, informed, community-centered approach. The McClaren Institute seeks to provide space, partnerships, and resources to increase access to prenatal and postpartum care, offer training and education for women and healthcare providers, and advocate for policies addressing the social determinants of health.  

For example, we could imagine our Simulation Lab or Examination Classroom as satellite maternal care sites for Upstate medical providers. They could provide vaccinations, check vital signs, or triage common prenatal concerns like high blood pressure or blood sugar.  

While the McClaren Institute might not be the key facilitator addressing this challenge, our space and mission offer the opportunity for the right coalitions to come together for change.  

There is so much that could be done on a local level to protect the lives of our underserved women in the Upstate as they navigate pregnancy and postpartum care.  

As we seek to raise funding for the Institute’s physical construction in the historic McClaren Medical Shelter, this vision for the future is essential.  

What could become possible with the right donors, partnerships, or programs? Our eyes and ears are open to improving maternal health for all in the Upstate.  

Are you curious about partnering with the Urban League of the Upstate’s McClaren Institute on maternal health? Use our contact form to get in touch.