California Equity in Maternal Health Report

2025 California Equity in Maternal Health Report

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) proudly present the 2025 California Equity in Maternal Health Report, which captures the maternal health experiences of more than 800 Black women and Latinas across California. This landmark study shines a light on the disparities, barriers, and urgent needs facing birthing people across the state.

Why This Matters

California is home to over 39 million residents, with Latinas and Black women comprising a significant share of the population. While the state’s maternal mortality rate is comparatively low, deep racial and ethnic disparities persist. Black and Latina birthing people continue to face higher risks of complications, adverse outcomes, and preventable death.

The report calls for urgent action to advance patient-centered care, diversify the health care workforce, and expand culturally competent maternal health services—placing the lived experiences and voices of women of color at the center of policy change.

This work was made possible through the generous support of Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs.

Spotlight: Health Care Workforce Perspectives

To deepen understanding of the aspirations and challenges of young women of color interested in health careers, BWOPA and HOPE conducted focus group sessions with:

• 4 Latinas
• 7 Black women

These sessions supplemented the findings of the statewide report and revealed critical insights.

Shared Themes Across Groups

• Concern about equity and discrimination: Both groups expressed unease about the broader social and political climate in California and nationwide.
• Need for transparent pathways: Participants stressed the importance of accessible, accurate information about health career requirements, training, and outcomes.
• New and useful knowledge: Many found the transfer pathway and career information provided to be fresh and highly valuable to their journeys.

Differences by Community

• Latinas: Often framed health careers as tentative or backup plans due to family expectations; noted the challenge of high competition but low wages in critical health roles.
• Black women: Emphasized the power of role models, describing how they inspired both personal motivation and a commitment to give back to the community.

Barriers to Pursuing Health Careers

• Limited access to paid internships
• Childcare gaps limiting training opportunities
• Financial challenges: tuition costs, lack of scholarship awareness, and affordability
• Inflexible training schedules overlapping with current work

Conclusion

The 2025 California Equity in Maternal Health Report and workforce focus groups together reveal both the systemic inequities in maternal health outcomes and the opportunities to strengthen California’s future workforce. By centering the voices of Black women and Latinas, BWOPA and HOPE chart a path forward toward a more equitable and just maternal health system for all Californians.