Researching Maternal Health. From Environment to Technology.

Maternal Birthways is a research initiative examining how environmental conditions, fragmented care systems, and data gaps shape maternal outcomes for mothers, and developing community-grounded, responsible technology to address them.

From the CORE Futures Lab at Howard University's Center of Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA).

Reach Out

THE CRISIS

A Preventable and Systemic Failure

80%

Of maternal deaths classified as preventable

700+

Annual pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S.

3-4x

Maternal mortality rate disparity for women

>50%

Maternal deaths occurring postpartum, after discharge

Women in the United States face deeply unequal rates of pregnancy-related mortality. Eighty percent of these deaths are preventable. More than half occur postpartum, after formal clinical monitoring has declined. Despite spending more on healthcare per capita than any other high-income nation, the United States reports the highest maternal mortality rate among its peers.

These outcomes reflect fragmented postpartum care systems, a persistent gap between what mothers need and what they receive, and the historical dismissal of mothers’ symptoms and self-knowledge. Dr. Shalon Irving, a CDC epidemiologist who dedicated her career to documenting health inequities, died three weeks postpartum from preventable complications. Serena Williams nearly died when her concerns were initially dismissed after delivery. These are not isolated incidents, they represent systemic patterns in which mothers’ pain is minimized and their knowledge of their own bodies is ignored.

The recent rollback of reproductive rights has further destabilized the landscape, disrupting access to obstetric care and widening existing gaps. Meanwhile, postpartum research focused specifically on mothers remains significantly under-studied, and mothers in communities without consistent access to continuous care still need clear, trustworthy guidance and timely connection to human providers.

OUR APPROACH

Community-Rooted Research, Responsibly Designed Technology

Maternal Birthways operates at the intersection of maternal health research, responsible AI, and community-engaged scholarship. We work with not for, mothers, doulas, clinicians, and community organizations to understand what support looks like and how technology can serve that vision without replacing the human relationships at its center.

Community Partnership & Lived Experience

Research design shaped by the expertise of doulas, midwives, and community health workers already serving mothers
Mothers' lived experiences treated as essential knowledge, not anecdotal input
Ongoing partnerships with DC-based maternal health organizations (DC Metro Maternity, Community of Hope, Mary's Center)

Community Partnership & Lived Experience

Research design shaped by the expertise of doulas, midwives, and community health workers already serving mothers
Mothers' lived experiences treated as essential knowledge, not anecdotal input
Ongoing partnerships with DC-based maternal health organizations (DC Metro Maternity, Community of Hope, Mary's Center)

Clinical Collaboration & Care Continuity

Collaborative research with clinical institutions (CONTINUUM, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center) on postpartum transition care delivery
Investigating how clinical and community-based organizations can work together more effectively
Designing systems that support provider decision-making rather than bypassing it

Clinical Collaboration & Care Continuity

Collaborative research with clinical institutions (CONTINUUM, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center) on postpartum transition care delivery
Investigating how clinical and community-based organizations can work together more effectively
Designing systems that support provider decision-making rather than bypassing it

Responsible AI & Human-in-the-Loop Design

Developing AI systems with hard safety boundaries, human providers remain ultimate decision-makers
Researching cultural concordance, trust, and emotional intelligence in AI-mediated maternal health interactions
Fairness-aware design with attention to bias, data ethics, and community accountability

Responsible AI & Human-in-the-Loop Design

Developing AI systems with hard safety boundaries, human providers remain ultimate decision-makers
Researching cultural concordance, trust, and emotional intelligence in AI-mediated maternal health interactions
Fairness-aware design with attention to bias, data ethics, and community accountability

Addressing the Data Gap

Building research knowledge in a domain where maternal postpartum experiences are significantly under-studied
Developing datasets that capture behavioral, clinical, and social determinant factors specific to this population
Cross-national perspectives examining postpartum care

Addressing the Data Gap

Building research knowledge in a domain where maternal postpartum experiences are significantly under-studied
Developing datasets that capture behavioral, clinical, and social determinant factors specific to this population
Cross-national perspectives examining postpartum care

SUPPORTED BY

Howard University — Center of Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA)

Core Futures Lab

CONTINUUM: Center for Care Continuity After Pregnancy — The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth (via Reach Alliance)

Reach Alliance — Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto