New bill would teach pregnancy and infant health in high school

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Republican State Representative Lauren Daniel introduced legislation aimed at addressing maternal and infant health in Georgia.

“Over the last decade, there have been numerous efforts made in the legislature to address maternal mortality in Georgia,” said Rep. Daniel. “However, nationwide, we have seen a rise in maternal health issues such as heart disease, cardiomyopathy, pre-eclampsia, embolism, gestational diabetes, and maternal mental health conditions; many of these also lead to consequential health issues in infants.”

House Bill 1036 would require the State Board of Education in consultation with the Georgia Department of Public Health to implement a course of study in pregnancy, health, and human development for 9-12th grade students.

Daniel cites the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Maternal Mortality Report. The report analyzed the number of women who died in Georgia between 2012 to 2020. The report found roughly 89% of those deaths were preventable. 60% of the women who died had a high school degree or less.

This coursework would be included as part of the pre-existing health and physical education course requirements. In addition, HB 1036 would require the coursework to include instruction on human biology related to pregnancy and other related topics, such as the stages and hallmarks of gestational development for humans, as well as organ development for every week of pregnancy until birth.

“I have drafted the Maternal and Infant Health Education Act because one of the most common things I have heard from obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, nurses, and most importantly, mothers, is there just simply is not an adequate level of knowledge around the complications that can arise both during and after childbirth,” said Rep. Daniel.

“One of the findings of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee was that the majority of women who have died due to pregnancy complications only held a high school diploma or less. I truly believe we should be empowering women with knowledge about their health, what to expect during and after pregnancy, what to watch out for, and when to seek help. If this legislation were to receive passage, I believe it would be a first-of-its-kind bill that could save countless lives,” said Rep. Daniel.

The bill has not been assigned to a committee yet.