Georgia faces persistent poor maternal health outcomes, especially among Black women. The adoption and impact of maternal health systems recommendations remain unclear.

Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States, especially among Black women. The state legislature and public health leaders have launched several efforts to address this issue, including the establishment of the Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and the House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality (“Study Committee”). The work of the MMRC and Study Committee resulted in several recommendations for improving maternal health in the state. However, limited information exists on the implementation and impact of these recommendations. The Georgia Health Initiative (the Initiative) has prioritized maternal health as a key area for systems-level change and was looking to dig deeper into how these recommendations were used.  

NORC conducted a comprehensive analysis of maternal health policy implementation in Georgia.

NORC combined rigorous policy analysis, qualitative research, and stakeholder engagement to evaluate the extent and effectiveness of implementation of maternal health recommendations from the MMRC and the Study Committee. We identified over 30 recommendations from both bodies and collaborated with the Initiative to identify 15 priority recommendations. We then conducted an environmental scan of peer-reviewed and gray literature to assess how these recommendations were adopted, monitored, and evaluated in Georgia and in other states.

To deepen the analysis, we interviewed key stakeholders, including members of the Initiative’s Maternal Health Vitality Think Tank, state officials, and maternal health advocates. These interviews provided critical insights into the systems and processes used to implement and communicate policy changes, as well as the barriers and promising practices encountered along the way. We synthesized our findings into a final report designed to support shared understanding, inform future policy, and strengthen maternal health systems in Georgia.