Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116054

Lisa Conforti, MPH and Lindsay Dormer Robinson, MPH. Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support (PALS), 3322 Arnold Street, Philadelphia, PA 19129, 847-421-5937, Lcon40@yahoo.com

Although 15% of pregnancies can benefit from cesarean section surgery, the public health community should ask: Why does the national rate continue to rise (21.6% in 2002 to 27.6% in 2003, CDC)? And, What will curb the growth of elective cesarean deliveries? One evidence–based method that correlates to improved obstetric outcomes and lower cesarean rates is continuous doula support. A birth doula is a trained (non-clinical) person who provides emotional, physical, and informational support for a woman and her family during childbirth. This ancient practice has been associated recently - most notably in the Cochrane Review - to decrease the likelihood of medical interventions especially in hospitals with high intervention rates. Doula support is also linked to outcomes like longer breastfeeding, improved maternal/infant interaction, decreased post-partum depression, increased self-esteem, and higher overall satisfaction with the birth experience. In light of the studied positive outcomes doula support has on maternal and child health, it is timely to examine a volunteer doula program started in 1998 by nursing students at the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, the Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support (PALS) has trained 200 doulas and has attended close to 200 births. This community-based volunteer program provides prenatal match-up for the Philadelphia area and on-call services for 2 local hospitals. All services target an underserved population of women who want, but could otherwise not afford, doula services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to

• Discuss the effects of continuous labor support by doulas on birth outcomes.
• Identify the benefits of continuous labor support for women, their families, hospital staff, and the larger public health community.
• Describe this unique and innovative volunteer doula program.
• Explore the opportunities for and barriers to implementation of a doula program.
• Develop a doula program tailored for their community and/or hospital.

Keywords: Pregnancy Outcomes, Evidence Based Practice

Related Web page: dolphin.upenn.edu/~doulas/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.