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

Abstract #116695

Melissa Selbst, MPH, CHES, Arizona Chapter, March of Dimes, 1616 E. Indian School Road, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85016, 602-287-9926, mselbst@marchofdimes.com and Lylaine Gavette, CNM, MS, Phoenix Developing Family Center, 303 E. Baseline, Suite 104, Phoenix, AZ 85042.

The Phoenix Developing Family Center was developed in 2000 by a group of community members and health care providers concerned about the persistently disparate number of babies born to soon and too small in the South Phoenix area. The project has progressed from a planning phase to a fully operational birth center delivering nearly 200 babies as of January 2005. Care is provided by a team of Certified Nurse Midwives and massage practitioners. Improved outcomes for mothers and their babies in South Phoenix; provide a "healthy healthcare facility" in which care is offered in a warm, beautiful space that comforts and supports transition into motherhood, explores options for family planning, and provides information about healthy lifestyle choices; and to reduce the incidence of preterm birth among the targeted population are the main goals of the project. The incidence of preterm babies delivered in the project is 3% much less than the rate of 11% for the South Phoenix area. Strategies for accomplishing this goal have included enriched, innovative prenatal care focusing on stress-reduction strategies. Care includes lengthened prenatal visits addressing the woman's social environment and an hour-long massage with a guided imagery component. Special emphasis is placed on prenatal bonding of mother and baby that compels mothers to make healthy, life altering choices for their developing infants.

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