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Gender Disparities In Eastern Connecticut And The Role Of The Midwife

Where do gender disparities exist for women and girls in our state? And how do we address them?

A new study asks this question in an area of Connecticut that is not often highlighted. This hour, we talk with the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut about the status of women and girls in the 42 towns that make of the eastern region of our state.

And later—we look at the health of women and babies. We check back in with ProPublica reporter Nina Martin, who has been investigating why America has such a high maternal mortality rate.

Martin’s latest story looks at a new study that finds U.S states which allow midwives to play a bigger part in healthcare systems have better health outcomes for mothers and babies.

Where does Connecticut rank?

Did you have a midwife involved in your pregnancy? How was your experience?

GUESTS:

  • Maryam Elahi - President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern CT. *She is also a member of the board of Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network
  • Dr. Lynn Malerba - Lifetime Chief of the Mohegan Tribe. She has a PhD in nursing with a long career as a registered nurse before becoming Chief. She is also a trustee of the Community Foundation of Eastern CT
  • Nina Martin - Covers gender and sexuality for ProPublica. She has spent the past 18 months investigating why the U.S. has the worst rate of maternal deaths in the developed world for ProPublica in collaboration with NPR
  • Jessica Illuzzi - Medical Director of Obstetrics at the Vidone Birth Center at Yale New Haven Hospital, Saint Raphael Campus; practicing obstetrician

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

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Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.