Maternal and Child Health:
Schneider (2011), states that Infant mortality is a gauge of a society’s attention to children’s health and is, in fact, an indicator of the health status of a population as a whole (pg. 311). The United States is one of the worlds leading industrialized countries, yet ranks thirtieth in infant mortality (Schneider, 2011). The number one risk factor for infant mortality is poverty (Schneider, 2011). Another determinant of health is birth weight. The United States actually saw an increase in low birth weight babies in 2004 (HHS, 2006). So how can we change adverse birth outcomes?
A significant problem for maternal/child health that leads to adverse birth outcomes is due to receiving late or no prenatal care. Women obtaining proper prenatal care have been proven to have better pregnancy outcomes with decease adverse health effects in infants, children and later in life (McKenzie, PingerKotecki, 2012). According to McKenzieet al.(2012), a pregnant woman who receives no prenatal care is three times more likely to give birth to a low-birth-weight infant, and she is four times as likely to have her baby die in infancy (pg. 191). Health disparities have been shown to exist for many health treatments and services’, and receiving prenatal care is no exception.
An estimated 76.3 percent of black women received prenatal care compared to 88.9 percent of white women in 2003-2005 (Schneider, 2011). Unfortunately, not seeking care is leading to an increase in infant mortality rates. In 2001, the infant mortality rate was 14 per 1000 for black infants and 5.7 per 1000 for white infants (Paul et al., 2006). Black births were also 6.5 percent higher than whites for preterm babies (Paul et al., 2006). Socioeconomic status (SES) is also a determinant if women seek prenatal care. Women of lower SES have financial constraints, unemployed and usually lack insurance (Daniels, 2011).
There are solutions to help with increasing prenatal care to prevent adverse birth outcomes. One way is through Medicaid expansion. In North Carolina expanding Medicaid would allow an estimated 178,000 low-income women of childbearing age coverage allowing them to seek prenatal care (Sisk, 2013). Another way to improve birth outcomes is through group prenatal care. One study that was conducted showed prenatal care in groups increased gestational age of one-third of a week longer and added an additional 29 grams of birth weight(Picklesimer, 2012). We need to continue to find ways to reduce barriers to encourage high-risk women to seek prenatal care by providing them with information about available services, having clinic hours that stay open longer and having better public transportation for those that need it so they can get to their appointments (Schnedier, 2011). Our children are the future. Therefore, we must strive to find ways to increase prenatal care among all races and social classes. They deserve to have the best opportunity to lead a healthy life from conception and beyond.
Reference:
Daniels, Pamela V., "The Timely Use of Prenatal Care and its Effects on Birth Outcomes in Black Women of Low Socioeconomic Status in the South" (2011).Sociology Dissertations.Paper 58.
McKenzie, J., Pinger, R., & Kotecki, J. (2012).An Introduction to Community Health. (7 ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publisher, LLC
Paul, D., Locke, R., Zook, K., Leef, K., Stefano, J., Colmorgen, G. (2006). Racial differences in prenatal care of mothers delivering very low birth weight infants
Picklesimer, A., Billings, D., Hale, N., Blackhurst, D., Covington-Kolb, S. (2012). The effect of Centering Pregnancy group prenatal care on preterm birth in a low-income population. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Retrieved from
Schneider, MJ. (2011).Introduction to Public Health(3rdedition). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett
Sisk, T. (2013). Medicaid Expansion Would Improve Birth Outcomes, Report Says. Retrieved from
United States Department of Health and Human Services.(2006). Preventing Infant Mortality. Retrieved from