Honors Theses
Date of Award
Fall 12-11-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Public Policy Leadership
First Advisor
Zachary Vereb
Second Advisor
Melissa Bass
Third Advisor
Tess Lefmann
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis argues that the US crisis of maternal mortality is not an unavoidable tragedy, but a moral and policy failure. I argue that maternal well‑being is one of the most important indicators of a society’s overall health. When mothers receive the care, respect, and support they need, it reflects the strength of healthcare systems, the culture, and our commitment to future generations. The continued loss of mothers from preventable deaths reveals a system that fails many women and their families, especially Black women, low‑income women, and those in rural communities. First, I introduce the issue of maternal mortality in the United States and detail the scope of the crisis. Next, I unpack key drivers of maternal mortality—insufficient prenatal care, a lack of postpartum care, and the mental health crisis of mothers—in addition to how abortion adds to the contemporary conversation. Then, I defend a pluralistic approach relying on four framework principles to help resolve the crisis and justify policy recommendations to mitigate maternal mortality. Finally, I propose three policy strategies—a funding model for maternal care clinics, a workforce stabilization package for rural regions, and a federal mandate for standardized Maternal Mortality Review Committees. These policy recommendations are informed by existing data, real‑world constraints, and ethical necessity. The aim of the recommendations I defend would not only lower the death rates among mothers, but cultivate a healthier society that promotes the health and well-being of mothers specifically, and families more generally. All in all, this thesis calls for a transformation in how we think about mothers, urging us to view providing access to quality maternity care not as a health or policy issue, but as a moral obligation that is central to our collective future.
Recommended Citation
Ware, Jensen F., "The Moral Crisis of Maternal Mortality in the US" (2025). Honors Theses. 3365.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3365
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