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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Elissa Schuler Adair, PhD, Elizabeth Riggs, MPH, and Scott Berns, MD, MPH. Chapter Programs, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, 914-997-4425, eadair@marchofdimes.com

Through cooperative agreement with the CDC's Division of Reproductive Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the March of Dimes has funded 6 chapter pilots to test models of delivering preconception and prenatal education and services to minority women. Models discussed include: preconception/interconception care, faith-based initiatives, community partnerships, and group prenatal care. Qualitative stories of individual program participants and their involvement with systems of services before, during and inter-pregnancy are provided from pilot sites, both urban and rural, in California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. These stories will be collected during site visits from program participants and staff using focus group and one-to-one interviews in order to create composite (non-identifiable) portraits of how women interface with health programs that reduce premature births. This approach permits broad comparison on factors such as: women's current and previous care experience and life circumstance; community, individual and cultural factors; capacity and accessibility of systems; financing of care; and outreach strategies used to encourage care entry and continuation. Rationale for and selection of the various outreach strategies used will be discussed in terms of how and why they may work in particular contexts. Definitions of what constitutes a successful encounter will also be reported from the perspective of the participant, the provider and the overall objectives and outcomes of a particular program or partnership. A list of potential determinants of health disparities in maternal and child health will be provided with examples from case studies as appropriate.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe barriers and facilitators to consistent delivery of preconception and prenatal education and services to minority women;
• Identify strategies for engaging minority women in different contexts.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered