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As women are being celebrated globally during Women’s History Month, attention is being focused in California on one of the most fundamental aspects of womanhood–motherhood.
Sadly, in 2025 too many women are still dying from childbirth, despite the fact that 85% of these deaths are preventable, according to California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos. The state’s Surgeon General’s Office has launched a new questionnaire to help reduce the maternal mortality rate by 50% by December 2026.
The questionnaire is part of the California Strong Start and Beyond movement, a partnership between the state and health agencies to foster awareness, bring resources and encourage active participation by pregnant or future pregnant women and their families.
The Preconception Medical Assessment or PreMA consists of eight yes or no questions to help pinpoint a woman’s current health status and postpartum health. The PreMA surveys will be distributed among women living in high risk communities. Question topics include heart health, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, drug use and history of surgery.
Specific recommendations appear at the bottom of the survey based on the number of yes responses, as well as links to resources.
Black women in California experience pregnancy-related maternal mortality rates that are 3 to 4 times higher than other women. In the U.S., Black women are twice as likely as white women to die due to complications related to maternity and the birthing process, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Since 2012, at least 56 hospitals in the state have either closed their maternal care centers or closed down altogether. Centinela Hospital in Inglewood discontinued maternal care in 2023. Los Angeles Community Hospital and Memorial Hospital of Gardena are among the facilities near Inglewood that no longer offer this care. MLK Hospital in South L.A. does have a facility, but it is hanging by a thread due to steep financial losses.
Declining birth rates–a major reason officials cite for closing 5 Inglewood schools–are to blame for widespread closures. High costs and labor shortages are also to blame. However, CalMatters found even highly profitable hospitals closed maternity wards that delivered more than 700 babies annually, putting women and their families at unnecessary risks.
As new efforts are made, such as PreMA. It is crucial to spread the word so women can have the best possible outcomes. For more information about the new questionnaire, visit https://osg.ca.gov.
