KENTUCKY — Maternal health is a human right. That’s why the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky signed on to become a strong supporter and advocate of legislation filed during this year’s session to address this topic.

Maternal mortality rates in the United States increased by 14% between 2019 and 2020 and increased by 26% among Black birthing people during that same period.

A recent Kentucky public health report found 78% of maternal mortality cases were considered preventable.  

Jackie McGranahan, senior policy strategist with ACLU Kentucky joins this segment to discuss efforts to address poverty and other socioeconomic factors as it relates to maternal health and how Senate Bill 74, once implemented will increase collection and analysis of enhanced maternal health data in Kentucky, with a focus on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and use this data to inform policy recommendations and track progress.

You can watch the full ‘In Focus Kentucky’ segment in the player above.