Oral

Many factors influence the health of a community, including adequate economic, social, cultural, educational resources and the like. There are wide variations across communities in terms of access to and distribution of these resources. As a result, within a community, various subgroups, which may be defined by socio-economic status, racial and cultural attributes, etc. may differentially benefit from community resources. Inadequate community resources may directly or indirectly lead to poor pregnancy outcomes. Untoward pregnancy outcomes, in turn, can negatively impact not only the family, but the community at large. It is important to identify the community factors that both negatively and positively affect pregnancy outcomes in order to optimize the health of mothers and babies. This session will examine the role of community in birth outcomes. In an effort to improve birth outcomes, communities need to identify variations across racial and ethnic populations, address important risk factors and barriers to improved outcomes, and look at possible ways to improve outcomes by examining successful community interventions both in the United States as well as in other countries.

Session Objectives: 1) List 3 community factors that can directly or indirectly affect pregnancy outcomes 2)Identify at least two different communities, factors that may put them at higher risk for sub-optimal pregnancy outcomes, and possible approaches to reducing community-related risk factors

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)