New Survey by Stagwell (STGW)'s The Harris
Poll Highlights Critical Gaps in Postpartum Maternal Health
Education and Support in the U.S.
NEW
YORK, July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In
conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week which starts tomorrow,
The Harris Poll, a Stagwell Agency, is releasing additional data
from its second annual State of Maternal Health Report, revealing
significant shortcomings in the health information and support
women in the U.S. receive throughout their pregnancy and postpartum
journey. Key findings from the survey, conducted online in April of
2024 among more than 1,000 U.S. women aged 18+, indicate a worrying
trend: pregnant women in the U.S. are being underserved when it
comes to postpartum education and support.
Two in 5 women who have been pregnant (40%) report receiving
insufficient (22%) or no information/ resources at all (18%) from
their healthcare providers (HCPs) on the topic of breastfeeding,
according to the survey. The gap widens when it comes to mental
health, with more than half of women who have been pregnant (53%)
likely under-supported as they did not receive any (40%) or enough
(13%) information/resources on postpartum depression.
"These statistics are not just numbers; they represent the real
struggles of mothers nationwide, including myself, who feel
neglected by the systems meant to support them," expressed
Christina Lojek, Research Manager at
The Harris Poll. "Fueled by my own experiences, I chose to lead
this study, and it solidifies how imperative it is that we improve
postpartum support and education for mothers, who are clearly
asking for and deserving of much better care."
Lack of education on postpartum depression is even more
distressing given how much more widespread this health issue is
becoming. About 1 in 8 women who are currently pregnant or have
been pregnant (13%) say they were diagnosed with postpartum
depression by a medical professional – this jumps to 29% among
women ages 18-34, versus 10% among women ages 35+.
The need for better postpartum care, in general, is also
evident. Roughly 1 in 4 women who have been pregnant (24%) rate
their postpartum care as less than adequate. Postpartum care
unfortunately appears to be on the decline, with over a third
of women ages 18-34 who have been pregnant (36%) citing subpar
care, compared to just 22% of women ages 35+. Additionally, a
substantial 74% of all women agree that there isn't enough focus on
postpartum healthcare for mothers, and nearly two thirds (64%) feel
that mothers are often forgotten once the baby arrives.
Another significant way that women are being neglected
postpartum is the lack of federal maternity leave in the U.S. The
survey highlights a strong consensus on the importance of maternity
leave, with nearly all women affirming its pivotal role in
improving health outcomes for both mothers and their babies (90%,
each). Despite this, dissatisfaction with U.S. maternity leave
policies is evident, as a significant majority of women (73%)
consider the leave provided by most U.S. employers insufficient,
indicating a need for reform. Nearly 3 in 5 women (58%) believe
that the standard minimum length of paid maternity leave should be
extended to at least 12 weeks, with about a quarter advocating for
20 weeks or more, and 11% suggesting a minimum of 26 weeks.
The weeks and months after giving birth are crucial to both
mother and baby, not only to give them time to bond, but to allow
mothers to recover and focus on caring for and nourishing their
babies. When specifically looking at breastfeeding, the benefits
are widespread, from aiding with bonding, to protecting both mother
and baby from various health risks. Furthermore, according to a
study published by HHS, there is a direct correlation between
length of maternity leave and breastfeeding initiation and
prolonged duration. Yet, current U.S. maternity leave policies, or
lack thereof, do not support this.
Shockingly, almost two thirds of women (64%) are unaware that
the U.S. lacks federal paid maternity leave. This finding
underscores a significant information deficit that could leave many
expecting mothers in a position where they need to choose between
prioritizing the wellbeing of themselves and their baby or their
job.
At the start of World Breastfeeding week, these findings are
even more concerning and paint a dire picture of the critical need
for comprehensive educational programs, substantial policy changes,
and a stronger support system for mothers during and after
pregnancy. This is a wake-up call for all stakeholders involved in
maternal healthcare to strengthen support structures and ensure
mothers receive the care and information they need to safeguard the
health and well-being of both mothers and their children.
If you or someone you know are currently pregnant or plan to be
pregnant in the future, please consider checking out the below
resources/information to better support that journey.
- To better support your breastfeeding journey:
- Reach out to your insurance company before giving birth to
understand lactation support benefits, in-network lactation
consultants, and to find out how to get a free breast pump
- Work with a lactation specialist after delivering (the hospital
has them on staff), and/or consider seeing one in the weeks after
giving birth
- Check with your HCP/delivering hospital about local
breastfeeding cafes, which provide peer support and are often led
by a lactation specialist
- To ensure you are getting the maximum allowed leave time if you
are employed, ask your employer about their maternity leave policy
and how it works in conjunction with state disability and/or state
paid family leave
- To better support your mental health during and after
pregnancy, ask your healthcare provider(s) about signs of
depression/PPD and anxiety/PPA to look out for and resources to
help manage these issues
Survey Method:
The 2024 State of Maternal Health survey was conducted online in
the U.S. by The Harris Poll April 2-4,
2024 among 2,061 U.S. adults ages 18+, among whom 1,116 are
women, and 701 are women who are currently pregnant or have ever
been pregnant. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a
Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data
is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95%
confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among
subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey
methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample
sizes, please
contact christina.lojek@harrispoll.com.
About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is a global
consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the
authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a
better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas:
building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand
strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media
through public relations research. One of the longest-running
surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion,
motivations and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of
Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform
marketing. To learn more, please visit
www.theharrispoll.com
Contact:
Christina
Lojek
christina.lojek@harrispoll.com
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SOURCE Stagwell Inc.