Supporting the Black Birthing Community in Chicago: A Study of the Capacity Building Needs of Black Doulas

Black birthing people and their babies have worse health outcomes than their white peers due to systemic factors such as poverty, implicit bias in medicine, and limited access to healthcare. Doulas, or continuous, non-clinical birth attendants, are a proven cost-effective means of improving birth outcomes and supporting birthing people through their pregnancy and delivery. Black doulas specifically deliver culturally relevant and community focused care to Black birthing people. In this study I utilize a qualitative approach to examine barriers that Black doulas in Chicago face in their delivery of care to Black clients. Analysis reveals a critical need for policy intervention to support the affordability of doula care for Black clients, as well as to support collaboration amongst Black doulas and with clinical care staff.