93% Preventable: Why Native American Mothers Are Still Dying After Childbirth
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This episode of Everyone Dies explores the alarming and preventable pregnancy-related mortality rate among Native American and Alaska Native women, which, according to CDC data, is the highest of any demographic group in the U.S. Dr. Gina Ford, a clinical nurse specialist and expert in Indigenous health disparities, joins host Marianne Matzo to unpack the systemic failures behind these deaths. The conversation reveals that over 93% of these deaths are preventable, driven by underfunding of the Indian Health Service (IHS), geographic isolation, fragmented care across multiple systems, lack of continuity, and deep-rooted historical trauma—including forced sterilizations in the 1960s and 70s. Mental health conditions and substance use, often misinterpreted as individual failings, are presented as symptoms of broader structural inequities. The episode emphasizes that postpartum care is critically underserved, with most deaths occurring weeks to a year after delivery, and calls for systemic change: increased funding, culturally competent care, inclusion of Native voices in decision-making, and normalization of mental health support. The hosts stress that prevention is possible—but only through structural investment and trust-building, not individual blame.
Over 93% of pregnancy-related deaths among Native American and Alaska Native women are preventable, primarily due to systemic failures, not individual choices.
The Indian Health Service is severely underfunded—per capita funding is lower than Medicare, Medicaid, and even the Bureau of Prisons—leading to critical gaps in care access and quality.
Most births occur outside IHS facilities, resulting in fragmented care across disconnected systems, with patients often losing continuity and support postpartum.
Historical trauma—including forced sterilizations and boarding schools—has created deep, intergenerational mistrust in healthcare systems, deterring women from seeking care.
Postpartum mental health and substance use are not personal failures but markers of systemic neglect; early screening and ongoing support are essential.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Crisis of Native Maternal Mortality
“Over 93% of pregnancy-related deaths among Native American and Alaska Native people were considered preventable.”
Historical Trauma and Systemic Underfunding
“This is not distant history. And so many people remember. And so when we think about mistrust, it's not abstract. It's really grounded in real harm.”
The Hidden Crisis of Postpartum Care
“When substance use becomes fatal in the postpartum period, that is a systems failure, not just an individual one.”
Fragmented Care and the Need for Systemic Reform
The conversation explores how care is fragmented across multiple systems—prenatal at IHS, delivery at a hospital, postpartum elsewhere—leading to lost follow-ups and missed warning signs. Dr. Ford emphasizes the importance of continuity, cultural familiarity, and patient-provider relationships in preventing deaths.
Urgent Warning Signs and Community Action
“If something doesn't feel right, you've got to reach out to your provider. And I understand the barriers to doing that. But even if it's going to the emergency room, it's your life.”
“Over 93% of pregnancy-related deaths among Native American and Alaska Native people were considered preventable.”
“This is not distant history. And so many people remember. And so when we think about mistrust, it's not abstract. It's really grounded in real harm.”
“When substance use becomes fatal in the postpartum period, that is a systems failure, not just an individual one.”
Hosts
Guest
Dr. Gina Ford
person
Indian Health Service
organization
Marianne Matzo
person
Charlie Navarette
person
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
organization
forced sterilization
other
boarding schools
other
New Mexico
other
Tuskegee syphilis project
other
First Nations
organization
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