307814
Using MCH surveillance data in the evaluation design of an intervention to reduce disparities in preterm birth in Newark, NJ
In 2012 March of Dimes launched a 3-year multi-level intervention to reduce preterm birth (PTB) among African American women in Newark, NJ. In consultation with a Community Advisory Board, we used New Jersey birth certificate (EBC) data and NJ Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to evaluate program effectiveness.
Methods:
We selected live births for the years 2007-2012 for African American women in the Newark area and a comparison group of African American women in the rest of NJ. We used Poisson regression to calculate PTB rates adjusted for age, education, foreign-born, and parity. We also included PRAMS questions corresponding with intermediate outcomes, e.g. barriers to prenatal care, on a post-partum survey at two hospitals for comparison with pre-intervention PRAMS results. Issues that were discussed with the Community Advisory Board included definition of catchment area and appropriate comparison group.
Results:
The adjusted rate of PTB among African American women in Newark decreased from 14.2% in 2007 to 11.3% in 2012, -0.59% per year (95% Confidence Interval = -0.86, -0.32), and among African American women in the rest of NJ from 12.6% in 2007 to 11.1% in 2012, -0.28% per year (95%CI=-0.43, -0.14). In the first year of the intervention, the PTB rate among African American women in Newark area declined 7.9%, compared to only 4.2% in the rest of NJ. Intermediate PRAMS outcomes will be also be presented.
Conclusions:
MCH surveillance data can be used independently or combined with primary data collection for evaluation of multi-level MCH interventions.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practiceLearning Objectives:
Describe common issues arising in the use of MCH surveillance data for evaluation.
Identify methods for using electronic birth certificate data to evaluate health disparities interventions.
Explain how Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System can be used in combination with primary data collection to provide “non-exposed” data for intermediate outcomes such as health behaviors.
Keyword(s): Data Collection and Surveillance, Perinatal Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a maternal and child health epidemiologist with 16 years of experience in research related to perinatal epidemiology and health disparities. In addition, I have extensive experience using MCH surveillance data, and teach research methods at Rutgers School of Public Health.
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.