The survey, conducted online in April of 2024 among more than 1,000 U.S. women aged 18+, identified that a worrying proportion of women believe they must fight to receive the medical care they need, with more than half of women (53%) agreeing with this sentiment. Furthermore, roughly 2 in 5 women who are pregnant or have been pregnant (39%) say they experienced challenges to accessing care during pregnancy and childbirth. Access to care issues appear even more pronounced among younger women aged 18-34 (who are most likely to have recently experienced pregnancy or to be currently pregnant), women residing in the South, employed women, and mothers with children under 18.

Not being able to access such important care can negatively impact the entire pregnancy journey, from experiences to outcomes. Other findings from the survey surrounding care quality include:

• Only 42% of women who are currently pregnant/have ever been pregnant strongly feel they had access to the best possible care when they were pregnant—a significant drop from 50% in 2022.
  • Younger women are particularly affected, with less than a third in the 18-34 age group (32%) strongly feeling they received the best possible care.
• More than 1 in 10 women who have been pregnant say their prenatal care (11%), labor care (12%), and delivery care (12%) were less than adequate. About 1 in 7 (15%) say the same of their recovery care, and a whopping 1 in 4 (24%) say the same of their postpartum care.
• About 1 in 7 women who’ve been pregnant (14%) did not feel heard by their provider during their prenatal care visits.

“The data clearly show that not only are many women feeling disregarded and underserved by our healthcare system during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, but there is also an overwhelming demand for immediate improvements to ensure the safety and well-being of all mothers in America,” said Christina Lojek, Research Manager, The Harris Poll.  “Furthermore, the results confirm that access to care and care quality issues are becoming more prevalent, and depending on which state you live in, you could be more at risk,” she stated.

Notably, two-thirds of women (67%) expressed concerns that the current political climate is exacerbating the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and perhaps rightfully so. Women across the U.S. are demanding change – a vast majority (83%) state that more needs to be done to ensure safer pregnancy and birthing conditions in the U.S., with 45% strongly endorsing this view.

When thinking about access and quality of care in the current political environment, location matters. Looking at women who live in states with the most restrictive reproductive health policies*, they are significantly more likely than those who live in protective states to share negative experiences and sentiments surrounding pregnancy and childbirth care:

• Women in the most restrictive states are significantly more likely to feel like they have to fight to get the medical care they need than women who live in protective states (58% vs. 49%).
• Among women who are currently pregnant/have ever been pregnant:
  • Those in the most restrictive states are significantly less likely to strongly feel they had access to the best possible care when pregnant than those who live in protective states (38% vs. 50%).
  • Nearly half of those in the most restrictive states (48%) say they experienced challenges to accessing care during pregnancy and childbirth, compared to less than a third (31%) of those in protective states, and are about twice as likely to report insurance-related barriers (20% vs. 11%).
• Among women who have been pregnant:
  • Those in the most restrictive states are more than twice as likely as those in protective states to cite less than adequate prenatal (17% vs. 7%) and labor (19% vs. 9%) care.
  • Those in the most restrictive states are twice as likely to say they did not feel heard by their provider during prenatal care visits as women who live in protective states (20% vs. 9%), and more than 4 times as likely to strongly feel this way (9% vs. 2%).

In light of these findings, there is a clear call to action for healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders to take decisive measures towards reforming maternal healthcare practices and policies. Ensuring that all pregnant women have access to the highest standard of care needs to be an urgent public health priority.

*Definitions for states’ reproductive health policies were derived from Guttmacher Institute. Most restrictive states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Protective states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Survey Method:
The 2024 State of Maternal Health survey was conducted online in the U.S. by The Harris Poll April 2-4, 2024 among 2,061 U.S. adults ages 18+, among whom 1,116 are women, and 701 are women who are currently pregnant or have ever been pregnant. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval.  For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact christina.lojek@harrispoll.com.

About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com

Contact:
Christina Lojek
christina.lojek@harrispoll.com

Code and Theory is leading the technological revolution in B2B. The agency’s balanced team (50% creatives and 50% engineers) ensures a multidisciplinary approach to each project, blending AI, communications, design and technology from start to finish. The agency grew steadfast in its B2B partnerships with Amazon Ads, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Clover, Thomson Reuters and ETS.

Code and Theory has also recently been recognized as:

• Ad Age 2024 Business Transformation Agency of the Year
• Fast Company Design Agency of the Year Honoree
• Creative Agency of the Year at the Ace Awards
• B2B Campaign of the Year at The Drum Awards for Amazon Ads
• Gold and Bronze winners at New York Festivals for innovation, technology and data storytelling for its creation of the Big Board for NBC Universal

Plus, Code and Theory received an additional seven B2 awards for its work with Amazon Ads and Volvo Trucks. 

Code and Theory tailors technology-first, creative solutions, reducing complexity and accelerating long-term growth — all at speed and scale. In the last year, the agency delivered groundbreaking B2B solutions and impact:

• +26% in Amazon’s global ad revenues in Q3, totaling more than $12 billion (part of a larger Amazon partnership since 2021)
• +63% in qualified leads on Morgan Stanley at Work after a complete website redesign (part of a five-year partnership)
• +28% in engagement YoY on Microsoft’s Windows Commercial experience as part of an ongoing strategy, design and marketing partnership
• +350% in visitors at launch for Volvo Trucks’ new website, part of Volvo’s biggest launch in 25 years, anchored by a redesigned web experience and digital reveal
• Shaped and launched Thomson Reuters’ first global rebrand in 16 years

ANA CEO Bob Liodice says, “The ANA Masters of B2B Marketing is a celebration of the very best in B2B. Code and Theory proved that by infusing technology-first thinking into everything they create for their clients was worthy of this year’s top honors. Congratulations to them, their clients and all of this year’s winners.”

Dan Gardner, co-founder and executive chairman of Code and Theory says: “Too often, B2B marketers are focused on solving yesterday’s problems. We’re dedicated to helping solve our clients’ biggest challenges with an eye on the future and focusing on long-term value. ” 

Michael Treff, Code and Theory CEO, says: “This recognition is a huge testament to our outstanding clients and endlessly curious teams at Code and Theory who are relentless about driving impact for our clients. We are honored to be recognized, and consider our true success to be the success of our clients as they navigate the many seismic shifts happening in their businesses.”

About Code and Theory Network
Code and Theory Network is the only network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers at scale. The technology-first group within Stagwell Group is built to partner with businesses to navigate the complexity of changing consumer behaviors, emerging technologies and AI. With a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entire consumer journey, we crave the hardest problems to solve. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Mediacurrent, Rhythm and Truelogic. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, MSNBC, NFL, Pfizer and Zappos. For more, visit codeandtheory.com

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact:
Kenneth Hein
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com

Penn’s keynote presentation on how marketers can navigate emerging technology to fuel brand growth will draw on his four decades of leadership across technology, marketing, and political organizations. As Microsoft’s former Chief Strategy Officer, Penn led a team to revitalize Bing, the company’s search engine, and conceived of and led successful initiatives like Microsoft’s award-winning Super Bowl 2014 ad “Empowering Us All.” Today, as Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, Penn has built the only global marketing services organization boasting majority digital revenue. At Stagwell, he launched the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, a suite of SaaS and DaaS solutions spanning AI-enabled research, media, PR, and advanced media products in spaces such as augmented reality.

On the Cannes main stage, Penn will discuss:

The Contrarian’s Compass: Navigating Emerging Tech Hype

Join Penn as he reveals how nonconformist thinking can help brands navigate the complex landscape of today’s tech trends and find genuine ways to innovate, avoiding the traps that hinder long-term growth. Get practical advice for incorporating emerging tech into the brand creative mix.

Cannes Lions | Rotonde Stage, Rotonde | Monday, June 17, 4:45 PM CEST

Off the Mainstage

Penn will make several other appearances at Cannes Lions, including at Stagwell’s flagship sports business destination SPORT BEACH, to speak about the future of news and the balance between data privacy and consumer empowerment:

Future of News: Why News Audiences Matter as Much as Sports Junkies

News is the future – and represents a unique and complementary platform for brands to drive business results. How are news media preparing for the next thirty-six months? A C-Suite conversation discussing the path forward and opportunities ahead for journalists, brands and news junkies. Featuring:

• Meredith Kopit-Levien, CEO, The New York Times
• Barbara Peng, CEO, Business Insider
• Mark Thompson, CEO, CNN
• Moderated by Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell, and Sara Fischer, Axios

SPORT BEACH | Wednesday, June 19, 12:30 PM CEST

Empowering Consumers in a Data Driven World

Join industry leaders in an exploration of data privacy, consumer expectations, and the impacts of technology innovation. Gain a deeper understanding of how to build trust and propel innovative marketing strategies within the ever-evolving digital landscape. Featuring:

• Navaneeta Das Skinner, Global Client Lead, Publicis
• Eva Simone Lihotzky, GM AI Hub, Serviceplan Group
• Mark Penn, Chairman & CEO, Stagwell
• Elaine Rodrigo, Chief Insights & Analytics Officer, Reckitt

Microsoft Beach House | Monday, June 17, 1:00 PM CEST

About Stagwell

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

CONTACT: 
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com  

Not Perfect is an integrated creative, digital, and design network of nearly 100 people operating out of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Not Perfect boasts exceptional strength in creative production, anchored by its proprietary Creative FastForward™ process, which enables the network to produce high volumes of quality creative at a fast pace. As a global affiliate partner, Not Perfect will benefit from Stagwell’s focus on technology innovation in marketing services through the Stagwell Marketing Cloud and other digital firms across its network

As one of the most awarded agencies in the Baltics, Not Perfect’s client roster includes deep contacts in its home region and in an increasing number of countries around the world. It partners with the biggest telco providers in each of its offices – Tele2, LMT and Bite – which are each top 10 advertisers in the Baltic States. Other notable clients include the Carlsberg Group, Beam Suntory, NATO, and the Lithuanian Red Cross. Additionally, the agency is behind the largest global civic initiative in fighting Russian disinformation in the context of the Ukranian war called Call Russia, an effort which has been covered extensively by CNN, BBC, CBS News, Reuters, and other top outlets.

“Not Perfect brings the perfect blend of award-winning creative, technical know-how, and marketing craft that Stagwell is committed to bringing to our clients around the world,” said James Townsend, CEO, Stagwell EMEA. “Our teams across EMEA are eager to tap into their expertise, and in turn share more of our capabilities in digital transformation and global creative with their clients in the region.”  

“We’ve admired Stagwell for years for their incredible lineup of the world’s best creative agencies that continuously produce culture-shifting work. Today, their offering, empowered by cutting-edge technology, is transforming marketing for the most ambitious brands around the globe. We couldn’t be more excited to join forces,” said Paulius Senuta, CEO of Not Perfect Network.

Stagwell’s Global Affiliate Program powers agile global solutions for clients, allowing Stagwell to partner with regional experts to scale marketing capabilities to new locations. Since the program’s inception, Stagwell has formed partnerships with nearly 90 affiliates across APAC, EMEA, LATAM and North America, extending Stagwell’s global operational reach to 98 countries.

Stagwell and Not Perfect’s partnership comes amid heightened focus on EMEA for Stagwell. Earlier this year, the company launched its first regional headquarters for EMEA in London, and acquired two new companies, What’s Next Partners (WNP) in France and Sidekick in the U.K. 

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

About Not Perfect Network
Not Perfect Network is an integrated creative, digital and design agency with offices in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. We have reinvented quality creative development. Using a larger and more diverse team of creatives, we Creative FastForward™ from brief to creative development, producing large volumes of highly effective creative at speed. We’re renowned for creative work that gets the nations talking. Whether that be in our home region of the Baltics or in an increasing number of countries around the world.  Join us at www.notperfect.com

Not Perfect Network PR Contact
Lukas Pereckas
lukas.pereckas@notperfect.com 

Stagwell PR Contact
Kara Gelber
pr@stagwellglobal.com

Brand New Galaxy’s rebranding as Assembly was a natural next step in the agencies’ partnership. Assembly now boasts a stand-alone digital commerce capability of more than 400 experts continuing to deliver excellence for clients, including Lindt, Ceer, and Mashreq, while also offering expanded solutions for brands like Lenovo, Fossil Group, and Virgin Mobile to deliver superior value and ROI for marketing investments.  The move brings together unprecedented attitudinal, behavioral and now transactional data under, STAGE, Assembly’s AI-powered platform and operating system. Ultimately, this furthers Assembly’s vision to create more connected omnichannel experiences to make clients’ brands perform.

Key executives from Brand New Galaxy will join Assembly’s global leadership team, ensuring seamless integration and continuity of excellence for existing and new clients. Former Brand New Galaxy CEO Piotr Morkowski, a seasoned leader in the industry, is now Assembly’s Global Digital Commerce CEO, while Julia Dziurbiejko and Kacper Kłos, both highly respected in their fields, assume the roles of Global Digital Commerce COO and Global Head of Digital Commerce, respectively.

“Since we acquired Brand New Galaxy in 2021, the agency has been essential to accelerating commerce-driven solutions for our clients. We believe this combination is the right step to bring the best minds in the industry together with a broader spectrum of digital services designed to drive full-funnel growth and engagement,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell.

“This move is a long-awaited natural next step in Brand New Galaxy’s journey since it joined Stagwell back in 2021. BNG has already been closely collaborating with Assembly on a number of global clients for the past two years, and coming under one umbrella is a natural move which creates even more growth opportunities for both our clients and people. I am truly excited about joining forces with Assembly to continue to be a challenger on the market and expand the digital frontiers even further together,” says Piotr Morkowski, now Global Digital Commerce CEO at Assembly.

“I am thrilled to have Brand New Galaxy become a part of Assembly,” says Rick Acampora, Global CEO of Assembly. “ Their expertise in digital commerce is a fantastic addition to help drive more meaningful connections between clients and their audiences. This integration and added capability allow us to help our clients grow by connecting their needs from end-to-end with more transactional data and insights to inform better brand strategies at the onset. We’re also excited about what this means for our people as more scale and exposure result in more professional growth for each of them. Our goal is to Find the Change that Fuels Growth in everything we do, and we are excited about the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.”

ABOUT ASSEMBLY
Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency that merges data, talent, and technology to catalyze growth for the world’s most esteemed brands. Our holistic approach weaves together compelling brand narratives with a comprehensive suite of global media capabilities, driving performance and fostering significant business expansion. Our initiatives are powered by STAGE, our proprietary operating system, and executed by a dedicated global team of over 2,300 professionals across 35 offices worldwide. Committed to purposeful action, Assembly leads the way in social and environmental impact within the agency realm. As a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network designed to revolutionize marketing, Assembly continues to set new standards of excellence. For more information, please visit assemblyglobal.com.

ABOUT STAGWELL
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

STAGWELL CONTACT:
Kara Gelber   
pr@stagwellglobal.com

ASSEMBLY CONTACT:
Jess Santini
jess.santini@assemblyglobal.com

Each webinar will dive into Stagwell’s client work, market insights, and thought leadership across core areas such as Digital Transformation, Creativity & Communications, Performance Media & Data, and Research & Consumer Insights, as well as special topics such as the Company’s M&A strategy, political advocacy firms, and approach to artificial intelligence.

Upcoming: “The Next Five Years in Marketing”

Kicking off the series is “The Next Five Years in Marketing,” an in-depth exploration of the transformative technology, consumer, and client forces poised to shape the industry’s future. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, June 11 from 1-2PM ET, and feature:

• Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell
• David Sable, Vice Chair, Stagwell
• Julia Hammond, President, Global Solutions, Stagwell

Penn will present the trends shaping the next five years in marketing, followed by a roundtable discussion and Q&A with Sable and Hammond.

To register, visit this page. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing ir@stagwellglobal.com.

Investors can stay up to date on the latest offerings and events in this series by visiting Stagwell’s investor site here.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at stagwellglobal.com.

Contact:

Ben Allanson
ir@stagwellglobal.com