Free maternal health event in South Euclid on March 29

A free Maternal Health Town Hall will be held on March 29 in South Euclid. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. The nonprofit Birthing Beautiful Communities is organizing the town hall to discuss healthcare resources for pregnant women and families. The town hall will offer an interactive panel discussion and a question-and-answer session. Maternal health experts will talk about different care options available in Northeast Ohio, including holistic support for birthing women. Families with children are encouraged to attend, and a light lunch will be provided. To help with planning, registration is recommended by calling 216-382-4880. The goal of the town hall is to improve maternal health, particularly for Black women, in order to address Ohio's high infant mortality rates. In 2021, the infant mortality rate for Black babies was 14.2 per 1,000 live births, compared to 5.4 for white babies. Furthermore, from 2018 to 2022, the maternal mortality rate in Ohio was reported at 24.5 per 100,000 live births. Risk factors contributing to infant deaths include smoking, lack of prenatal care, and obesity. In 2021, a significant percentage of infants who died were born to mothers who smoked or did not receive early prenatal care. Addressing these concerns is crucial for the health of mothers and their infants in Ohio.