What Is Advocacy and Why Does It Matter at PPHEquity?
At PPHEquity, advocacy means more than simply speaking on behalf of patients. Advocacy means helping mothers feel heard, informed, supported, and safe throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. It means recognizing concerns early, providing education, supporting equitable care, and creating spaces where patients feel comfortable asking questions and expressing fears without feeling dismissed.
Through experiences in nursing, interpreting, and public health, we have seen how communication barriers, limited health literacy, delayed recognition of symptoms, and social determinants of health (SDOH) can directly affect maternal outcomes. Many mothers leave the hospital overwhelmed and uncertain about what symptoms are considered normal postpartum recovery versus signs of a potentially serious complication such as postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
At PPHEquity, advocacy is deeply rooted in education and awareness. We believe patient education can empower mothers to recognize warning signs earlier, seek care sooner, and feel more confident navigating the postpartum period. Advocacy also means acknowledging that not all patients experience healthcare equally. Factors such as language barriers, access to care, socioeconomic challenges, transportation, and healthcare disparities can all impact maternal health outcomes.
We use advocacy at PPHEquity through:
Maternal health education
Postpartum hemorrhage awareness
Community outreach
Patient- centered communication
Support for underserved populations
Promotion of equitable and compassionate care
Sometimes advocacy begins with small but meaningful actions: listening carefully to a patient’s concerns, providing reassurance, educating before discharge, or encouraging mothers to trust themselves when something does not feel right.
Our mission at PPHEquity is rooted in the belief that awareness, communication, compassion, and education can make a meaningful difference in maternal outcomes and patient experiences.
References
American Nurses Association. (2023). Advocacy. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Postpartum hemorrhage. https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-infant-health/php/severe-maternal-morbidity/postpartum-hemorrhage.html
Healthy People 2030. (2024). Social determinants of health. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health