Center for Indigenous Resilience, Culture, and Maternal Health Equity

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section Indigenous mothers (those who self-identify as American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Native American) experience the highest rates of maternal mortality and morbidity (MMM) in the U.S. Structural, social, and biobehavioral risk factors such as food insecurity induced by food apartheid, chronic stress perpetuated through intergenerational trauma, and loss of traditional birthing practices and roles require innovative solutions. To accomplish this, the Center for Indigenous Resilience, Culture, and Maternal Health Equity (CIRCLE) has been formed to better understand and address these factors through individual, family, community, and health systems interventions. The long-term goal of CIRCLE is to eliminate disparities in Indigenous MMM through effective translational science spanning best practices in preconception, prenatal, and maternal postpartum care through the first 2 years of life. The immediate goal of CIRCLE is to bring together researchers and community partners in Oklahoma/Southern Plains region to discover the sources of Indigenous MMM disparities and translate scientific results into solutions that promote maternal health. CIRCLE will: (1) leverage existing and expand current partnerships with tribal health partners on patient-centered outcomes research and interventions; (2) cultivate and support an interdisciplinary team of independent experts focused on discovering the bases for, and solutions to, Indigenous maternal health disparities; (3) establish the foundation and initial processes necessary to enable translational research and interventions focused on eliminating Indigenous maternal health risk factors; and (4) exchange strategies, data, findings, and recommendations from Aims 1-3 with key partners. Achieving the aims of CIRCLE is significant. Over 90 percent of Indigenous maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable. Reducing MMM is a national priority. An essential step in reducing MMM in the future is the elimination of preventable maternal health risk factors. CIRCLE’s focus on identifying solutions for Indigenous maternal health risk factors therefore addresses a critical barrier to achieving a national public health priority. CIRCLE is innovative. Research centers focused on maternal health exist throughout the country; however, none of these centers focus specifically on Indigenous maternal health in the Southern Plains. We also emphasize a strengths-based “culture as protective” approach at the core of CIRCLE.