The Sconi

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (R-Wisconsin) recently tweeted information surrounding the Perinatal Workforce Act, part of the 12-bill Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. 

As part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, the Perinatal Workforce Act aims to increase the number of health workers who provide “culturally congruent” care to pregnant women before, during and after birth. In total, the act is made up of 12 bills set to address various aspects and disparities within the health care field in order to provide better access of health services for women of color, according to Baldwin.

“Wisconsin has the highest racial birth disparities in our country. Parents of color are three to five times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related causes. This mortality crisis must be addressed - @RepGwenMoore and I have introduced the Perinatal Workforce Act. #Momnibus," said Baldwin in a tweet.

In Wisconsin, black and Native women are three to five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, while their babies are two to three times more likely to die than white babies. In numbers recorded in Dane County between 2016 and 2018, the mortality rate of black infants was 12 deaths per 1,000 births, while the nationwide average for babies of all ethnicities was 5.8 deaths per 1,000 births, according to In These Times. 

The Momnibus Act also aims to improve factors that impact pregnancy and birth but are not limited to health care, including housing, nutrition and transportation, according to Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health.