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a new Statewide survey by Emer University shows the state’s alarmingly
High maternal mortality rate is top of mind for Georgians it also shows they
want to see State lawmakers do more about it Fox Eric mock breaks down the
survey for us with the Emory experts behind it well according to this new survey out
by Emory University and research America one out of every 10 Georgians knows
someone who’s either died during pregnancy at delivery or after giving
birth It’s upsetting to know that one in 10 people know of someone a friend or a
family member who’s lost their lives um to pregnancy related causes Danny Fallon
is the dean of emmer University’s Rollins School of Public Health she says
this survey shows Georgians are now very aware of An Inconvenient Truth about
their state for over a decade Georgia has been amongst the worst ranked states
in the US for maternal morbidity and mortality we are right now now 49th
across the country the survey also shows more than half have either experienced
or known someone who has experienced complications during pregnancy 47% said
substance use disorders and 41% said mental health were the top factors in
increased risk of maternal mortality Fallon says they’re right when we look
at the causes of maternal death during and right after pregnancy mental health
and Behavioral Health are some of the top reasons for death more than a third
of people surveyed said racism is a major obstacle to mothers getting the
maternal care they need in Georgia an issue highlighted by studies that show
black women in the state are three times as likely to die from pregnancy related
complications the vast majority 82% say they want State lawmakers to devote more
funds and resources to the peach State’s fatal flaw in separate questions in this
poll um they endorsed a state line it item to the budget in Georgia meaning
portions of their tax dollars going towards these efforts now Fallon says
it’s clear that many lawmakers are wanting to fix this problem she says
their extension of Medicaid to up to 12 months after birth does help postpartum
vulnerability but she says it’s clear from this survey and other data that a
lot more in funding needs to be unlocked for this in Today News National