2017 Call for Abstracts
The Maternal and Child Health Section is interested in receiving abstracts pertaining to research, evaluation, evidence-based programs, and policies in the following areas, several with specific priorities given to this year's conference theme “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health.”
This year the MCH section has a special focus on Addressing Health Inequities. We encourage abstract submissions to this special call and also to one of our committees below if their specific focus is aligned with your project.
The MCH Section’s Equity Work Group was established in 2015 to address profound inequalities in health outcomes among maternal and child populations due to racism in the United States. The Work Group has adopted a broad definition of racism as “ a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on phenotype (“race”) that unfairly disadvantages some while unfairly advantaging others” (Jones, 2000). While concerned with all forms of social marginalization and discrimination, the Work Group focuses on racism because of its unique place in the social and cultural underpinning of inequality United States.
While the Work Group encourages a focus on health equity and social justice in submissions in all MCH topical areas, this year for the first time we invite abstracts that focus directly on racism, equity, social justice and inequality in relation to MCH policies, practices and outcomes. Of particular interest are abstracts which:
Successful submissions must demonstrate how adolescents and/or young adults were engaged in developing the research, policies, or practices in a way that also supported their training and growth.
1. Human Milk Expression and Sustained Breastfeeding
We welcome abstracts that examine human milk expression and pumping in the context of sustained breastfeeding. Issues of interest include but are not limited to:
• whether pumping impacts breastfeeding duration,
• the role of hand expression and/or mechanical expression in the early postpartum period impacts duration,
• whether expression/pumping has an impact on work-place culture/practice vis-à-vis breastfeeding.
2. The Intersection of Corporate Practices and Breastfeeding
We are interested in abstracts that explore the intersections of corporate and/or business practice with breastfeeding. This topic area can include:
• Support in the workplace for sustained breastfeeding;
• The role of corporate entities on shaping the discourse around infant feeding;
• Current status of adherence to the WHO Code of Marketing and the impact on breastfeeding
3. From Bench to Population Health
Emerging research is demonstrating the connection between the biological components of human milk and population health outcomes. To this end, we are actively soliciting abstracts in the following areas:
• Physiological mechanisms linking breastfeeding to maternal and infant health, with implications for population health.
• Human milk composition and connections to infant health and development, with implications for population health.
• The impact of human milk (versus artificial milk) on the infant microbiome, with implications for population health.
We ask that authors be sure to draw connections between bench science and population health.
4. Prescription/Non-Prescription Drug Use and Breastfeeding
The Breastfeeding Forum is soliciting research on the impact of prescription / non-prescription drugs on lactation with implications for public health practice. Some areas that will receive preference include:
• Breastfeeding and persons who use drugs
• Prescription pharmaceuticals and breastfeeding
We welcome research that has implications for public health practice.
5. Social Media and Breastfeeding
We are calling for abstracts that look at the intersection of social media with breastfeeding. Some areas we would like to learn about include:
• experiences with using social media as a means to support breastfeeding,
• the role social media may play in shaping attitudes towards infant feeding.
6. Policies, Interventions and Practices that support (or inhibit) the right to breastfeed
We welcome abstracts that describe researcher / community partnerships to support the right to breastfeed among marginalized populations.
We also welcome abstracts that discuss intervention / policy strategies that support breastfeeding as a right. Policies/Interventions which demonstrably reduce INEQUITIES in breastfeeding are especially encouraged. It is not sufficient to show that the police improved breastfeeding, abstracts must demonstrate that the strategy reduced inequities (i.e., did the intervention close the gap?).
Abstracts that discuss the legal issues surrounding breastfeeding as a right are also encouraged.
Populations we are particularly interested in – from a rights and equity perspective – include
• LGBTQ* identified individuals,
• Indigenous peoples of North America and the Hawaiian Islands,
• Rural / remote populations,
• Immigrant populations,
• Teen mothers
• Other visible minorities.
Preference will be given to those abstracts that discuss breastfeeding duration – not merely initiation.
As well, abstract authors are strongly encouraged to conduct a literature search to ensure that their submission makes a novel contribution to the field of breastfeeding research; it must be clear to reviewers that the submitted abstract makes a unique and innovative contribution to the science of breastfeeding.
Abstract Scoring
Abstracts will be scored based on the following criteria:
• Study aligns with priorities identified in call
• Study novelty in terms of topic, methods, and/or study design
• Methodological Rigor: Rigorous analytic methods appropriate to study
• Presentation of Results: specific, clear, concise
• Measurable Learning Objectives
Abstracts which lack novelty (in terms of topic, methods, and/or results) will receive very low priority.
Questions
If you have any questions about this call or the identified priority areas, please contact the Scientific Program Chair, Dr. Nathan C. Nickel (Nathan_Nickel@cpe.umanitoba.ca).
o The elimination of social disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes (e.g., social determinants of health; ecological factors such as the built environment, toxic exposures, food deserts, health care access, etc.; stress and mental health; cultural competency; diversity in the MCH workforce; place-based and faith-based initiatives, etc.)
o The importance and impact of behavioral health and stress/stressors on optimal pregnancy outcomes, and interventions to reduce stress in pregnant women.
o Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities and birth outcomes
o The impact of incarceration on prenatal care and pregnancy outcomes.
o The prevention of maternal mortality and morbidity
o The politicization of childbearing in America and worldwide
o Life course approaches and their implications for pregnancy outcomes (e.g., intergenerational factors, fetal programming, child development, role of fathers and paternal health, teen pregnancy and adolescent health, pre- and inter-conception health, prenatal and post-partum care, primary care, oral health, reproductive life planning, etc.).
Abstracts that directly address the conference theme, Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climates Changes Health, and the topics of interest to the Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Committee will be given highest priority. However, we also welcome abstract submissions on cutting edge research, policy initiatives, and interventions that may not directly relate to the conference theme, but nevertheless address 21st century opportunities and challenges to promoting healthy pregnancy outcomes.
For this year’s program, the Innovations in Maternity Services committee is seeking papers on the Climate of Inequities in Maternity Care. The focus will be on addressing issues in access to care for communities of color, low-income families, urban and rural residents, immigrants, LGBTQ folks, and other marginalized populations. The focus is on positive programs which address these issues and create a climate of change and innovation.
The committee welcomes research and descriptions of programs or policies that advance innovations in care access and promote perinatal health equity as well as culturally specific maternity care, including: midwives, community health workers, doulas, outreach clinics, insurance strategies, interprofessional collaboration, home birth, birth centers, and community-based care alliances. One of the goals of this committee is to educate and empower childbearing families to make their own choices, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes in childbirth. Current research or descriptions of programs/policies, which address these issues on the local, state or nation levels, are encouraged.
Abstracts related to this year’s conference theme might include:
o Family planning and reproductive health initiatives targeted to males;
o Best and promising practices to enhance paternal involvement in MCH;
o Barriers to paternal involvement in research, policy and practice;
o Preconception health and care programs specific to males;
o Innovative approaches to clinical practice on paternal involvement in pregnancy;
o A lifecourse perspective of paternal involvement in MCH;
Strategies to raise public awareness for the need to include men in MCH initiatives.
The committee welcomes submissions that focus on outcome measures and evaluations rather than program reports or descriptions.
Please read the dos and don’ts below. We received over 400 abstracts for the 2016 program; approximately 30% were accepted for oral presentation and another 30% were accommodated in poster sessions. Our cut off for inclusion into an oral session is an average rating of 8 or higher. Abstracts with lower scores are either waitlisted or placed in a poster session. Waitlisted abstracts are accommodated if there are openings due to withdrawals (most commonly from poster sessions). Final decisions about waitlisted abstracts are made by early August.
Please note that the FEBRUARY 23, 2017 abstract submission deadline will NOT be extended. No new abstracts will be accepted after that date. Late submissions or FAX submissions will not be accepted.
PLEASE NOTE:
• All presenters must be Individual members of APHA in order to present; you need not be a member at the time of submission but if accepted the presenter must be an APHA member;
• All presenters must register for the meeting; and
• Abstracts cannot be presented or published in any journal prior to the APHA Annual Meeting.
NOTE ABOUT CONTACT INFORMATION: Because your contact information is discoverable (and remains in the APHA system for years into the future) we strongly recommend using employer or school contact information rather than your personal/home address.
ABSTRACT DO'S AND DON'TS:
• Start early! You can start your submission before you have the entire abstract completed.
• Proofread!
• Recommended format: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions (be sure to include results). Abstracts describing studies waiting to be conducted or not yet completed are scored lower as many times the work is not complete by the time of the meeting and someone else could have had your slot.
• Only a 250 word abstract is required -Make clear the public heath significance or implications of your work (and its relevance to MCH)
• Include your data – abstracts lacking data receive lower ratings
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT, PLEASE REMEMBER TO ALSO PROVIDE:
• An abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;
• At least one MEASURABLE objective (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable objectives and compound objectives are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs: Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.
• A signed Conflict of Interest (Disclosure) form with a relevant Biographical Qualification Statement. BE SPECIFIC about how your experience and/or education qualify you to speak on your proposed topic. Just saying that you are an expert in the field is NOT adequate. Example of acceptable biographical qualification statement: “I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.”
• A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.
Abstracts are judged on clarity of presentation, importance/originality, understanding and presentation of implications of findings, quality and description of subject matter including problem statement or hypothesis, quality and completeness of supporting data/philosophy, clarity and interest of presentation, methodology and contribution to the field of MCH. The highest rated abstracts, based on blinded peer review, are selected and placed in sessions according to the overall program plan for that year. Abstracts that include data based on completion of the study or project will have priority.
Continuing Education
The MCH Section strives to achieve 100% approval for its sessions. Following these rules will help us continue to achieve that! APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.
For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:
1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;
2) at least one MEASURABLE SINGLE outcome (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable outcomes and compound outcomes are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs:
Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List.
3) A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement; Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.) Please note that I am the Principle Investigator of this study is NOT an acceptable qualification statement.
4) All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.
Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Mighty Fine at mighty.fine@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education. For program questions, contact the program planner listed below.
Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. For program questions, contact the Program Planners listed below.
Ready?
Kimberly Arcoleo, PhD, MPH
School of Nursing
University of Rochester
601 Elmwood Avenue
Box SON
Rochester, NY 14642
Phone: 585-273-5645
Kimberly_Arcoleo@urmc.rochester.edu
and
Lesley Cottrell, PhD
Department of Pediatrics and Prevention Research Center
West Virginia University
One Medical Drive, PO Box 9214
Morgantown, WV 26506-9214
Phone: 304-293-1149
lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu