In 2024, Arkansas Advocates held a series of focus groups with women around the state who were pregnant or had recently given birth. The corresponding white paper, Arkansas’s Maternal Health Crisis: Women Across the State Share their Experiences and Views, explores common themes Arkansas Advocates staff heard from our focus group participants.

One clear takeaway for Arkansas Advocates is that a concerted effort needs to be made by decision makers to include pregnant women and those who have recently given birth in conversations about improving maternal health care in the state. Otherwise, some of the biggest issues impacting women’s outcomes may continue to go unnoticed and unaddressed.

You can download this publication below.