“In the past 30 years, deaths from pregnancy-related complications have doubled in the United States, making it the most dangerous place in the developed world to give birth.”
In response to the shocking rise of maternal mortality rates, MTV along with Lena Waithe, Every Mother Counts and the Black Mamas Matter Alliance have launched Save our Moms, a campaign to provide life-saving resources for expectant mothers.
The Save our Moms campaign was inspired by three students from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs – Maria Jose Diaz, Justine LaVoye and Jenise Ogle – who pitched MTV leadership on their idea “to leverage the brand’s platforms as a way to shine a bright light on this overlooked crisis.” In addition to the launch video, directed by filmmaker Minhal Baig, the campaign will also include educational resources, articles, op-eds, and talent testimonials.
What You Should Know
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation with a consistently rising maternal mortality rate despite spending more per capita on health care than any other country
Every day, 2-3 women die in the U.S. from pregnancy-related complications
The risk is 3-4 times higher for black women than for white women
60% of these deaths are preventable
Learn more at Save Our Moms
*Statistic sources: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and The Lancet, via MTV.