The Wellness Collective

The urgent need for change in maternal healthcare

As maternal mortality rates rise in underserved communities, a look at improving outcomes by expanding access and removing stigma

PHOENIX (STN) – The United States ranks as the most dangerous developed nation for maternal health, with disproportionately high rates of maternal and infant mortality. As part of ‘The Wellness Collective’ segment during the March episode of ‘It Happens at STN,’ three experts tackled the systemic issues and solutions needed to improve maternal healthcare access.

“The United States is supposed to be the most powerful, economically strong country in the world, and we have mothers and babies dying on a daily basis,” said Shadie Tofigh, director of maternal and infant health at March of Dimes. She pointed to the critical lack of access to quality care before, during, and after pregnancy, particularly for women of color and those in rural communities.

“Close to 50% of all childbirths in Arizona are covered by Medicaid,” she added, emphasizing the importance of preserving Medicaid coverage as a lifeline for families.

“Maternal mortality doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way.”

Rachael Sally, Deputy Assistant Director / AHCCCS

One innovative solution Tofigh and her team have introduced is the Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers, which bring prenatal and postpartum services directly to underserved communities.

“These clinics on wheels eliminate barriers like transportation and multiple healthcare visits, providing a one-stop shop for comprehensive care,” she explained.

Beyond healthcare access, Rachael Sally, deputy assistant director at AHCCCS, highlighted the need to reduce stigma and approach maternal health from a whole-person perspective.

“Providers need to listen to their patients,” Sally said. “Their diagnosis or condition is just a part of them—so many other factors impact their health that we need to acknowledge.”

Moving from crisis to action in maternal healthcare:

Sally also emphasized the growing role of doulas in improving maternal outcomes, calling them a “critical area of support.” While Arizona’s Medicaid system now covers doula services, the provider network is still in its early stages.

“We have only one AHCCCS-registered doula right now, which is certainly not enough to meet the need,” she said. Expanding awareness and streamlining certification processes will be key to integrating doulas into mainstream maternal healthcare.

LaToya Taylor, director of maternal and child health at Mercy Care, underscored the importance of improving provider education and addressing broader social determinants of health.

“We need to train providers early—starting in medical school—to recognize the value of doulas and traditional healers as part of the healthcare team,” she said. “If we can get good providers offering quality care, that leads to better outcomes for both mothers and babies.”

The conversation reinforced the urgency of action.

“When a mother thrives, her family thrives, and our community thrives,” Tofigh concluded.

Sally echoed that sentiment. “We have so many resources in this country—maternal mortality doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way.”