Immigrant moms feel unsafe and unheard when seeking pregnancy care – here’s how they’d improve Philly’s health care system

Misinformation -- such as that a person needs a passport to receive medical attention -- can make immigrant moms reluctant to interact with doctors and hospitals. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/DigitalVision Collection via Getty Images

Immigrants make up nearly 16% of Philadelphia’s population of 1.6 million, according to a 2024 report from Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew reports this marks the largest percentage since the 1940s, and above the national percentage of 13.9%.

I am a neonatologist – a pediatrician who’s trained to care for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit – in the city. I’m also a perinatal health services researcher and study the health care and health outcomes of pregnant mothers and their infants. Because of my dual jobs, I know how important preventive health care is for decreasing the risk of disease, disability and death.