EXPANSION OF DOULA WORKFORCE, STATEWIDE COLLABORATION LEADING TO POSITIVE IMPACT ON MATERNAL HEALTH IN ARKANSAS

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 5 -- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences issued the following news release:

View Larger Image

Sept. 2, 2026 | LITTLE ROCK - The rapid expansion of Arkansas' doula workforce is playing a vital role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes across the state, according to researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation.

Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and educational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. A growing body of research links doula-supported care with reductions in preterm birth, cesarean delivery, labor complications, and postpartum depression, as wel...