Maternal Health in Kern County: A Journey to Improve Outcomes for Latina Women through Education and Advocacy
In Kern County, a large Latino community faces challenges with maternal health, including pregnancy-related complications. The third Annual Latina Maternal Health Fair was recently held at Cal State Bakersfield to provide families with the opportunity to learn about their health. ‘Save a Mom Save a Family’, a nonprofit organization, has been working for three years to address this issue by providing resources and advocating for accountability.
The organization’s co-founder, Michele Monserratt-Ramos, expressed their commitment to improving maternal health outcomes in Kern County. Families who have experienced traumatic losses have called for improvements in the healthcare system, leading to the successful campaign to recognize May as Maternal Health Awareness Month both locally and statewide. The nonprofit has also been advocating for accountability by filing medical board complaints in cases involving maternal negligence.
One such case involved a Bakersfield OBGYN who was disciplined by the California Medical Board for prescribing pain medication to a pregnant woman who died in 2020. The ‘Bakersfield Families Call to Action’ campaign was initiated to raise awareness of maternal negligence and empower families to advocate for themselves. The event at Cal State Bakersfield featured guest speakers, including Kern County Board of Supervisor Leticia Perez, who shared her personal experiences with maternal health issues and the lack of information available in the past.
Perez disclosed her own struggles with miscarriages and pregnancy-related complications, highlighting the importance of discussing Latina Maternal Health issues to prevent avoidable tragedies. The event at Cal State Bakersfield provided a platform for families, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to come together and work towards improving maternal health outcomes for Latina women in Kern County and beyond.
