Abstract: The Right to Understand and be Understood: Language Access As a Maternal Health Equity Barrier (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)
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608P The Right to Understand and be Understood: Language Access As a Maternal Health Equity Barrier

Schedule:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Marquis BR 6, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
* noted as presenting author
Wolfgang Bahr, MSW, MPH, Research Associate, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Hannah Mesa, MPH, MPP, Project Manager, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
Clara Reyes, MPH, Doctoral Student, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Alexis Handal, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Davon Wheeler, MPH, Research Assistant, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Andrea Gonzalez Jimenez, BA, MPH Student, Research Assistant, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Aiza Bustos, BA, MD/MPH Student, Research Assistant, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Richard Bryce, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Community Health And Social Services (CHASS) Center
Stephanie Gonzalez, BA, Program Supervisor & Research Coordinator, Community Health And Social Services (CHASS) Center
Angelina Palacios, MD, Family Medicine Resident, Henry Ford Health Systems
Margarita Valbuena, MS, Doula Program Manager, Community Health And Social Services (CHASS) Center
Angela Salgado, MBA, Chief Operations and Human Resources Officer, Community Health And Social Services (CHASS) Center
D’Angela Pitts, MD, Director of Maternal Health Equity and Associate Program Director of the OB/GYN Residency Program, Henry Ford Health Systems
Monique Swain, MD, Residency Program Director in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Henry Ford Health Systems
Yanil Ramirez, MD, OB/GYN Resident, Henry Ford Health Systems
Paul Fleming, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
Background: The language justice framework affirms individuals’ rights to communicate in their preferred language. For Latine patients with limited English proficiency, language barriers in maternal health care can lead to miscommunication, delayed care, and inadequate informed consent. This increases the risk of poor birth outcomes, complications, and lower patient satisfaction. Additionally, 6% of US physicians identify as Hispanic/Latine, and only 2% of non-Hispanic/Latine are Spanish-speaking. Ensuring that patients receive language-concordant care is essential for achieving language justice and health equity.

Methods: This mixed-methods study analyzed electronic medical records (EMR) from 2020-2023 (n=1354) to assess the relationship between patient-preferred language and interpreter use during labor and delivery at a major hospital in Detroit. Additionally, we conducted 14 interviews with Latina maternal health patients and 18 interviews with clinical staff to explore challenges related to language access.

Results: EMR analysis showed that 75% (n=1016) of patients identified Spanish as their preferred language, with 8.4% (n=114) not having a medical interpreter during labor and delivery. Participants reported barriers to Spanish-language access throughout the maternal care experience, including limited in-person interpreters, a shortage of bilingual providers, and inadequate language support during administrative processes such as appointment scheduling and navigation within the hospital. When language support was insufficient, patients experienced compromised care and a heightened risk of complications.

Conclusion: Language justice is essential for maternal health equity. Strengthening interpreter services, expanding bilingual staffing, and integrating language justice principles into maternal health policy are critical to addressing these inequities.

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