Last week the PW Perspective discussed the rising maternal mortality rates in light of the pandemic.

Based on preliminary findings conducted by Anonymous List for Change that are still being studied, this has had a large impact on the decisions that mothers often have to make when it comes to where they want to give birth in Northern Virginia.

During the research, a small sample of the Prince William County maternal population was recently conducted, asking the question of whether they delivered their babies in the County. Out of those 155 mothers polled, only 45 of those mothers who are residents said that they delivered their babies within the area’s facilities such as Sentara Hospital. That is roughly 29%, which is a very low number in comparison to the overall population. If this sample is any indication of the larger population data, it serves to the fact that not servicing our mothers in birth very well. Reasons such as poor service, doctors not delivering in PWC hospitals, and an overall bad reputation were to blame.

If these numbers are to change, primarily for expecting African American and Latinx mothers who are often subject to substandard care, then there must be an official committee created to examine the problems in Prince William County. Our mothers and children are counting on it. They’re counting on us.