Oral

This session focuses on social epidemiology and social determinants for maternal health and their implications for public policy. The first paper discusses the development of a maternal risk index for use by Public Health Nursing to determine caseload risk and to forecast care needs. The second and third papers discuss access to prenatal care in rural areas based on demographics as well as personal and system factors, while the fourth paper discusses alternative ways to measure birth outcomes. All discuss their findings as they relate to public policy.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss the use of a maternal risk index to forcast PHN care needs. 2. Identify facilitators for access to prenatal care in a rural county. 3. Compare similarities and differences of county-level factors that affect early access to prenatal care. 4. Explain differences among alternative measures of birth outcomes in New York State.

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