Oral

Each year in this country approximately one in eight babies is born preterm– before 37 completed weeks of gestation, and although there has been a slight decline in the preterm birth rate, still over half a million babies are born too early. The problems of preterm birth constitute a public health problem and will require a multi-faceted, public health approach. Using a public health perspective requires an understanding of social determinants of preterm birth and the impact of the life course on pregnancy outcomes. This panel presents three programs that use community- and family-oriented approaches to address the problems of preterm birth. Healthy Babies Are Worth the Wait uses a community-based approach while Centering Pregnancy engages pregnant patients within a community of other patients in their own care to promote healthy pregnancies. The NICU Family Support program works with the family to provide support while a baby is in the NICU and identify a thoughtful and message of interconception pregnancy planning.

Session Objectives: At the completion of the session, participants will be able to: • Describe the concept of social determinants of health applied to the problem of preterm birth • Explain how one can use a community- and family-oriented approach to address the problems of preterm birth

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)