Cutting-Edge Practice

Maternal Experience Survey (MES)

State/Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Setting: Community
Population: Women & Maternal
Topic Area: Equity & Anti-Racism Health Promotion & Communication Reproductive Health
NPMs: NA

Women of Color (WOC) face life-threatening complications and deaths during pregnancy or after
giving birth. Compared to their white counterparts, Black mothers in New Jersey are seven times
more likely to die as a result of pregnancy-related complications1
, and Black babies are three times
more likely to die before their first birthday.2 Many of these complications and deaths are
preventable. Birthing people in New Jersey are at a heightened risk of poor maternal and
birth outcomes including maternal mortality, infant mortality, prematurity, and pregnancy
and postpartum complications.
The Maternal Experience Survey (MES) is a community tool designed to improve care and reduce
childbirth-related disparities for Women of Color (WOC). Developed by the NAACP Atlantic City
Black Infant and Maternal Mortality (BIMM) task force and the Prematurity Prevention Initiative, this
tool allows birthing people to share their experience in a safe manner embedded with identity
acceptance and respect. The MES relies on Black mothers' critical personal feedback to improve
healthcare delivery.
The NAACP Atlantic City Black Infant and Maternal Mortality (BIMM) task force is committed to
mitigating disparities that impact birthing People of Color and their families. The task force has a
diverse membership of legislators, health professionals, educators, faith-based leaders, community
members, and many others that seek change in their communities and state at large. The purpose of
the taskforce is to build a community-level action response to the social and birthing injustices in New
Jersey.


Back to Database

Implementation Handout
NAACP Maternal Experience Survey: Statewide Implementation Report


CONTACT INFORMATION
Family Health Initiatives(FHI)/ Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative (SNJPC)
Christine Ivery
civery@fhiworks.org

Practice Website