“Why Would I Go Back There?”: Medical Mistrust and the Problem of Maternal Mortality

Abstract

What if we could save lives just by listening to women? “‘Why Would I go back There?’: Medical Mistrust and the Maternal Mortality Crisis” explores this question through birth narratives from people whose experiences made them hesitant to seek out any medical care. According to the CDC, over half of maternal mortality happens after people leave the hospital, and between 60% and 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. Understanding why these parents are not seeking care is integral to ending preventable maternal deaths. While health policy advocates have developed policies to remove structural and economic barriers to postpartum services, there are still patients who will not return to the hospital, even for lifesaving care. This article explores one possible reason why. Based on interviews with over 100 people who gave birth, this article joins scholars who view medical mistrust as a fundamental barrier to policy compliance. People will only return to the hospital if they think it will be better for them to do so. With an experience-conscious view in mind, this article ends with relevant policy recommendations gathered from health programs designed to bring trust back into maternal care.