How a major health insurer is empowering Black moms-to-be

It’s easy to take for granted the availability of modern interventions and health care but even today there are some big issues with maternal health — and effective solutions require a multifaceted approach.

Preeclampsia can occur in any pregnancy but, in the United States, Black mothers are three times more likely than white mothers to die from the condition. Through conversations with Black mothers and with insights from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Office of Minority Health & Health Equity, we learned that the reasons for this are rooted in racial and ethnic inequities. We worked with health care benefit company Aetna to create a kit for expecting mothers that extended education and tools for physical and social empowerment and health.

The prenatal preeclampsia care kit approaches the issue of preeclampsia by encouraging Aetna plan members to observe their own health, track signs and symptoms, and prepare to make their voices heard in medical checkups.

Engaging quizzes and guides help moms-to-be to bring their observations of their prenatal health into important conversations with health care providers, and ask questions to take control of their health from early pregnancy through the first months after childbirth.

Expert insights and advice are written clearly and simply, so they are easy to make part of a healthy routine. Tips for building a network for wellbeing are illustrated throughout the kit with custom illustrations that connect with member experiences.

By combining insights from national health data and leveraging Aetna’s expertise in maternal health education, these easy-to-use kits aim to make a real impact on saving moms and babies from the effects of pre-eclampsia.