Online Program

Oral

This session will explore multifaceted factors impacting birth outcomes, not only in the United States but also globally in post-conflict settings. As will be discussed, individually or as intersections, a mother’s childhood well-being, race, income, education level, or history of addiction or early pregnancy may all influence the health of herself and her newborn. Engaging a social determinants of health framework may increase our understanding of how these inequities and birth outcomes are linked. For instance, racial disparities in low birth weight remain significant across all income levels, with the greatest disparities occurring in higher income areas, revealing the need for intervention across the income spectrum. Likewise, both lack of education and adolescent pregnancy can influence the life trajectory of girls as they transition to adulthood. Addressing these issues with a Healthography approach will take both policy and practice solutions, and applying a social determinants of health framework may help us translate theory into clinical and policy interventions. Indeed, state policy can play a large role in tackling maternal and child health disparities, as was seen in the state of South Carolina when the state Medicaid agency partnered with a private payer to end reimbursement of nonmedically indicated early-term deliveries.

Session Objectives: Identify factors which may impact maternal and child health outcomes Discuss both policy and practice solutions which have been successful at addressing these maternal and child health outcomes

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