The challenges of accessing maternal healthcare for women in rural areas, incarcerated women and refugees

April 25th, 2024

Today's Guests on "Closer Look": Dr. Keisha Reneé Callins (Top Left) and Dr. Joy Baker (Top Right); (Bottom Left to Right) Motherhood Beyond Bars Executive Director Amy Ard and Program Director Vanessa Garrett, Embrace - Refugee Birth Support Community Engagement Manager & Afghani Community Liaison Muzhda Oriakhil and Director Virginia Voyles Tester.

On today’s “Closer Look” with Rose Scott, we continue with part two of our maternal healthcare series.

As of 2020, 82 of Georgia’s 159 counties have no OB/GYNs, while another 15 only have one. We discuss the challenges of accessing obstetrics and gynecological care in Georgia’s rural communities with our guests, Dr. Keisha Reneé Callins, an OB/GYN with Community Health Care Systems, and Dr. Joy Baker, an OB/GYN with Wellstar Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Then, we conclude our series with a discussion focusing on the outreach programs for pregnant women in difficult situations, such as fleeing their home country or incarceration.

Muzhda Oriakhil, the community engagement manager and Afghani community liaison, and director Virginia Voyles Tester are joining the conversation from Embrace Refugee Birth Support. Also, Motherhood Beyond Bars’ program director, Vanessa Garrett, and executive director, Amy Ard, joined the conversation.