Arkansas’s maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the nation. This is a crisis requiring a multifaceted approach that addresses the entire birthing journey, from pre-pregnancy through delivery and into the postpartum period. This infographic depicts what that journey for new mothers should be in order to achieve better maternal and infant health outcomes.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistance Secretary for Health, Office on Women’s Health. (2025, September 26). Preconception health. Retrieved January 1, 2026. womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-get-pregnant/preconception-health
- United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings. 2023 health of women and children report. Retrieved January 26, 2026. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/learn/reports/2023-health-of-women-and-children-report/state-summaries-arkansas
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists & American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Guidelines for perinatal care (8th ed). American Academy of Pediatrics. https://hscsnhealthplan.org/sites/default/files/OB%20-%20ACOG%20Guidelines%20for%20Perinatal%20Care%20-%208th%20Edition.pdfÂ
- March of Dimes. (2024, January). Prenatal care. Retrieved January 26, 2026. https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/data?top=5&lev=1&stop=33®=99&sreg=05&obj=8&slev=4
- National Health Law Program. Doula Medicaid Project. Retrieved January 26, 2026. https://healthlaw.org/doulamedicaidproject/
- Caughey, A. B., Cahill, A. G., Guise, J.-M., & Rouse, D.J. (2014). Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 210(3), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.026
- Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. (2023, October). C-section rates in Arkansas [Infographic]. https://achi.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/231024D_First-Births-C-Section-Infographic.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, December 12). Breastfeeding report card. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-data/breastfeeding-report-card/index.html
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Implementing perinatal mental health screening. Retrieved January 26, 2026. https://www.acog.org/programs/perinatal-mental-health/implementing-perinatal-mental-health-screening
- United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings. 2025 health of women and children report. Retrieved January 26, 2026. https://assets.americashealthrankings.org/AHR_2025HWCReport-StateSummaries_FINAL-WEB-ALL.pdf
- Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. The prenatal-to-3 system of care in Arkansas. Retrieved January 29, 2026. https://pn3policy.org/pn-3-state-policy-roadmap-2024/ar/
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2018, May). Optimizing postpartum care. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/05/optimizing-postpartum-care
- Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee. 2025 AMMRC factsheet. Retrieved January 27, 2026. https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Factsheet-MMRC-2025-for-web.pdf
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2026, January 21). AAP schedule of well-child care visits. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/health-management/Pages/Well-Child-Care-A-Check-Up-for-Success.aspx
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Well-child visits in the first 30 months of life (W30-CH) [Dashboard]. Medicaid.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2026. https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/quality-of-care/core-set-data-dashboard/measure/Well-Child-Visits-in-the-First-30-Months-of-Life-W30-CH?keywords=%5B%22863%22%5D&measure=HC.95&dataset=2024&measureView=state&stratifications=%5B%226%2B%20Visits%20First%2015%20months%22%5D&population=999&methodology=999&dataView=pointInTime&chart=map&timePeriods=%5B%222024%22%5D
