Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Radical Support: Understanding Doula Work As Resistance To Routinized Violence, Arianna Parkhideh

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

Continuous support during labor has been demonstrated to have positive effects on maternal and infant health, as well as improving birth experiences. The benefits of doula support are particularly important for improving the maternal and infant health outcomes for Black pregnant individuals and others facing health inequities. The role of doulas in addressing the Black maternal health crisis motivates this study of the underlying mechanisms through which doulas support clients and operate within hospital settings to create positive outcomes. An online survey was used to understand the perspectives of doulas on the Black maternal health crisis and the strategies they …