Submission Date

4-28-2025

Document Type

Paper

Department

Health & Society

Adviser

Rebecca Evans

Committee Member

Catherine van de Ruit

Committee Member

Lauren Wynne

Department Chair

Kelly Sorensen

Project Description

Maternal healthcare in the United States is progressively deteriorating, with alarmingly high maternal mortality rates positioning the country as a global outlier among developed nations. Many women, particularly from minority groups, experience challenges in accessing quality maternal care due to systemic social inequalities. To bridge the gaps in the system, the roles of doulas and midwives are investigated. Existing research highlights the positive impact of both doulas and midwives on maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the contributions of doulas and their potential for reducing disparities in the U.S. healthcare system. The study also analyzes the contributions of midwives in Chile to providing safe and humanizing care, albeit with some limitations. The study identifies barriers to providing care, examining health policies, cultural attitudes, holistic interventions, and techniques. The findings emphasize the need for the United States to adopt a robust doula care system and integrate an established midwifery model to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Using seven in-depth interviews with doulas, the paper highlights the critical role doulas play in maternal care in the United States. The study discusses the techniques that doulas and midwives use to improve maternal health outcomes, especially for marginalized women, and what accounts for variations in the use of doulas and midwives. Overall, this research offers a comprehensive overview of the roles of doulas and midwives and provides pivotal insights to improve maternal healthcare systems both domestically and globally.

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Available for download on Wednesday, April 28, 2027

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