Maternal Health and American Cultural Values: Beyond the Social Determinants

This book explores American cultural values as a factor in maternal health, examining why many American women experience poor outcomes in a high-resource environment. It includes contributions from medical and cultural anthropologists and addresses decision-making theory and life course theory. The book is a valuable resource for clinical and public health practitioners, students, anthropologists, sociologists, and women studies scholars.

Format: Hardback
Length: 215 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into the intricate relationship between American cultural values and maternal health, offering a comprehensive exploration that goes beyond the traditional social determinants of health. It sheds light on the underlying factors contributing to the alarming maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding.

The United States stands out as an exception, with poor maternal health outcomes and high morbidity/mortality rates compared to many other high-resource and even mid-level resource nations. While the social determinants of health identify social and environmental conditions that impact maternal health, they fail to address the broader question of why many American women, in a high-resource environment, experience poor maternal health outcomes. Frequent near-misses, high levels of severe childbearing-related morbidity, and high maternal mortality rates are comparable to those found in lower-resource countries.

To address this gap, this book brings together contributions from renowned medical and cultural anthropologists, as well as diverse clinical and public health professionals. The authors examine American patterns of decision-making from the perspectives of intersecting social, cultural, and medical values that influence maternal health outcomes. Employing an interdisciplinary critical analysis approach, the work draws upon decision-making theory and life course theory to provide a comprehensive framework.

The book explores a range of topics, including:

Cultural values as a basis for decision-making: The authors examine how cultural values shape the way individuals make decisions about maternal health, including factors such as gender roles, religious beliefs, and social norms.

Social regard for motherhood: The book explores the societal expectations and pressures surrounding motherhood, particularly for women, and how these expectations can impact maternal health outcomes.

Immigrants, refugees, and undocumented mothers: The authors examine the unique challenges faced by these populations in accessing maternal health care and the impact of cultural differences and social determinants on their health.

Cultural conflicts and maternal autonomy: The book explores how cultural conflicts and power dynamics can affect maternal autonomy and decision-making, particularly among marginalized communities.

Health outcomes among justice-involved mothers: The authors examine the health outcomes of mothers who are involved with the criminal justice system, including the impact of incarceration, substance abuse, and social determinants on maternal health.

Maternal Health and American Cultural Values: Beyond the Social Determinants is an invaluable resource for clinical and public health practitioners, as well as their students. It provides a comprehensive framework for graduate-level courses in public health, the health sciences, women's studies, and other related fields. By exploring the complex interplay between American cultural values and maternal health, this book aims to empower practitioners to address the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes and work towards improving the health and well-being of women and their families.

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031239687
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023