This is another indicator of economic, social, familial, and personal consequences that will reverberate throughout society. The shockingly high drop in life expectancy among Latinos overall, in combination with the dramatic increase in maternal mortality among Latinas, are indicators of inequity, lack of health insurance, lack of access to care, financial and employment precarity, language and other structural barriers, and a lack of trust in the health care system.

The good news is that there are many supportive and protective factors for women during the perinatal period, such as access to quality healthcare and healthcare coverage, receiving patient-centered and culturally sensitive care, and enhanced access to reproductive healthcare. Prevention and intervention strategies should also focus on mitigating isolation by creating support networks for new mothers and parents. Evidence-based interventions like doulas and home visiting can help prevent perinatal and postpartum mood disorders.