Pregnancy in times of pandemic: inequalities in maternal health

It is clear that COVID-19 has only served to worsen inequities in maternal health, and addressing this requires a multifaceted approach. Ensuring equitable access to health care and treatment, including COVID-19 vaccines, is imperative to prevent adverse events and eliminate bias in patient-provider interactions. Recognizing and addressing the systemic causes of inequities outside the health system (such as providing better education and employment opportunities) would also help improve health outcomes. Digital health services like telemedicine have proven essential for managing health conditions during the pandemic, but additional investments are needed to increase the availability of these services for underserved and rural communities. It is also essential to collect globally representative data on maternal and perinatal outcomes to lobby for accountability at the government level and drive policy change to ensure a safe, healthy and equitable maternal experience for all.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00005-X
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© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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