Introduction: The quest for birth equity and justice—Now is the time

Abstract

Emerging approaches for identifying and ameliorating racial disparities in maternal and infant outcomes have arisen in response to heightened demands for achieving the goal of maternal and birth equity. This imperative has been escalated by the devastation of the twin pandemics of Covid-19 and the unrest resulting from police and community violence spotlighting the racial inequities in health care and determinant conditions. The present quest for birth equity and justice is a call for new pathways of inquiry with expanded and novel methodologies, culturally respectful standards for quality care and a commitment to inclusion and diversity as critical elements for transformative change.