The 2023 Maine Perinatal Health Disparities Needs Assessment not only cites doulas as a way to improve birth for underserved populations, but specifically states that a lack of data on Maine’s doulas hinders assessing workforce capacity for Black and underserved populations. Understanding the workforce is essential to identifying cultural or geographic gaps in care and better informing efforts to increase access.

 

In 2023 Maine Doula Coalition initiated the first Maine Doula Survey to gather information about the doula workforce. The Maine Doula Survey addresses a concern identified by the state and is entirely doula led.

MDC has completed survey design and distribution. There are currently 44 survey respondents representing 10 of Maine’s 16 counties. Preliminarily the surveys show the 6 poorest counties are underserved by the existing doula workforce and the vast majority of doulas are white. The populations most in need of doula care likely have the least access. The survey is already yielding clear areas of need here in Maine. Further analysis, dissemination and education with stakeholders will continue to highlight areas of concern, identify specific paths forward and set a firm foundation for statewide improvements in doula access.

 

MDC leadership will work with the Maine Women’s Lobby to summarize our collected data and create a complete report on the results for use throughout the state by the Fall of 2024.

​

MDC received a grant from MeHAF and is facilitated by our fiscal sponsor Mabel Wadsworth Center