May 29, 2026

Pregnancy in the pandemic proves problematic

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The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women (Commission) and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii (HMHB), a local non-profit committed to improving maternal health, released a new report with findings from the first survey of women who have been pregnant or given birth in Hawaii during the COVID-19 crisis.

Prior to the survey, very little was known about the impact of the pandemic to maternal healthcare and pregnant women in Hawaii. The survey was conducted over two weeks in September 2020, and was completed by a total of 106 women who are pregnant or who have given birth during the pandemic. Hawaii, Oahu and Maui counties were represented although the majority (88%) of respondents were residents of Oahu. The majority of respondents (59%) were women of color.

“Pregnant women in Hawaii feel abandoned during the pandemic, and they’re not wrong. From what we have been told, no one is comprehensively documenting or responding to the indirect impacts on maternity caused by the strain of the pandemic on Hawaii’s health care infrastructure. This is indicative of a profound devaluing of women and specifically mothers. We hope these findings result in a better balance between safety for frontline health care workers and supportive maternity care,” stated Khara Jabola-Carolus, the Executive Director of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Pregnancy in the pandemic proves problematic

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