Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Eliminating Covid-19 Related Birth Disparities Through Telehealth, Thometta Cozart, Jennie Joseph, Uzoamaka Nwafor, Shambria Davis, Kendra Ippel, Deanna Wathington

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Out of 36 developed countries, the U.S. ranks 33 for infant mortality. In the U.S, the infant mortality rates occur at higher rates among African Americans. Black infants have a higher likelihood to die from low birth weights or other birth-related complications compared to White infants. Furthermore, some of these women reside in unsafe pregnancy areas also known as “materno toxic” zones which are characterized by the presence of crime, food insecurity etc. Though Black mothers are 2.3 times more likely to receive late or no prenatal care compared to White mothers, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues by making …

Moving Towards Justice: Reducing Encounters Of Preeclampsia In Adolescent Maternal Health, Shaunesse' Jacobs Plaisimond, George Hodulik, Molly Wilde

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Using data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b), several relationships were explored between nutrition and diet, likely attributed to education, culture, training, and habits around food. While these factors remain relevant and worth pursuing, data analysis implied that the most significant issue remaining is access to healthcare. Across race, age, and nutrition consumption, if pregnant people make higher incomes—inferring better access to healthcare and higher-quality nutrients, then their risk of preeclampsia is reduced. Accordingly, this paper performs an extensive literature review of the intersection of extreme maternal age and nutrient intake as a significant factor for preeclampsia. …

Birth Justice Philly: Equitable Community Engagement In Action, Simone N. Snead, Imani Davis, Samantha Shuster, Elizabeth Guman, Cynthia Estremera Gauthier, Aasta D. Mehta

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This article describes how a multi-sector coalition focusing on carrying out recommendations of the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) engages community participation through the development of equitable strategies that culminate in the implementation of actionable methods to improve perinatal outcomes.

The U.S. maternal mortality crisis continues to impact countless families and communities. Despite having some of the finest academic medical centers in the nation and a functioning county-level maternal mortality review committee, the maternal mortality rate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is far above the national average. Vital statistics show that Philadelphia’s rate of pregnancy-related deaths from 2012 to 2018 was …