274990 Moving from Theory to Practice: Life Course, Social Determinants, and Health Equity

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Milton Kotelchuck, MPH, PhD, MA , MGH Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
     
The life course model posits a new scientific paradigm for the field of maternal and child health (MCH). A recent emphasis on life course and social determinants among MCH leaders has generated new theories, new strategies, and in some areas more effective practice. In MCH, life course reflects new, and renewed, ideas about how to move forward to improve MCH population health and reduce disparities. This presentation will discuss how the MCH life course perspective provides better understanding of the role of human development in our health trajectories and of how the social environment paired with genes (epigenetics) gets embodied into physical health. The convergence of life course theories from reproductive health, child development, and chronic disease models will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Define the Maternal Child Health life course perspective Discuss the relationship between the MCH life course perspective and the role of human development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Career long researcher and teacher in Maternal Child Health and Epidemiology; founding editor of the Maternal Child Health Journal.Dr. Kotelchuck has extensive experience evaluating public health programs to improve birth outcomes and child health status. His research interests include examination of the adequacy and content of prenatal and internatal care, racial disparities in birth outcomes, maternal morbidity, immigrant health, child health services, child nutrition, and health data policy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5196.1: Advancing maternal and child health through a life course approach: integrating social determinants of health and health equity