Maternal and Child Health Commons^™

How Does Striving Against Adversity Impact Emotional Well-Being And Cardiovascular Risk In Children?, Brooks B. Gump, Stefanie Pilkay, Xiafei Wang, Sara Vasilenko, Nader H. Attallah-Yunes, Sarah Woolf-King, Stephen Maisto, Edith Chen, Craig K. Ewart

Population Health Research Brief Series

Working hard and persisting through challenges (i.e., striving) are often encouraged for children who face adversity.  But for children facing severe adversity, striving can come with hidden costs. This brief summarizes findings from a study using data from the Environmental Exposures and Child Health Outcomes (EECHO) cohort (N=283, 2013-2017) of children ages 9-11 in Syracuse, NY. The authors find that children facing adversity who strived harder reported lower depression and hostility. However, high-striving high-adversity children also experienced significantly higher blood pressure and enlarged heart chambers than their lower striving peers, both risk factors for future heart disease.

Bodies At Risk When Choice Is A Privilege: Women’S Reproductive Healthcare Accessibility And Health Outcomes Since The Dobbs (2022) Ruling, Dallas Bonnet

Undergraduate Theses

Existing literature has well-documented the disproportionate effects of abortion restrictions upon socioeconomically disadvantaged women and women of color. This thesis builds on that work by exploring the relationship between state-level abortion restrictions and women’s self-reported health, as well as state-level infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates. This project breaks these relationships down into three separate studies: Study 1 investigates the effect that abortion restrictions have on women’s self perceptions of health. Study 2 assesses the impact of abortion restrictions on infant mortality rates. Study 3 inspects the impact of abortion restrictions on maternal mortality rates. The primary independent variable …

Conjoined Twins And Abortion Restrictions: Navigating 'Ban State' Challenges, A Case Report, Beau Morgan Nrp

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

This case report highlights an unusual scenario of a conjoined twin pregnancy resulting from intrauterine insemination in a state with restrictive abortion laws. Despite a diagnosis deemed not compatible with life, the patient faced legal barriers preventing termination within their home state. Forced to seek care out-of-state, the patient underwent a successful termination at ten weeks and three days after lengthy and expensive travel. This case stresses the complex challenges posed by restrictive abortion laws, impacting patient access to essential medical interventions. The case demonstrates the critical intersections between medical care, medical ethics, legal constraints, and patient outcomes in managing …

Factors Associated With Immediate Postnatal Care In Lao People’S Democratic Republic: An Analysis Of The 2017 Lao People’S Democratic Republic Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, Tressa Quayle, Jinyoung Kim, Jennifer Pharr, Rebecca Benfield

Nursing Faculty Research

Background: The World Health Organization recognizes that approximately half of all maternal deaths occur in the immediate postnatal period or 24 h after birth. Forty-seven percent of Lao women aged 15–49 who delivered a baby in the last two years received a postnatal health check in the frst two days after delivery. After leaving the presence of a provider, 98.5% of these women never received another postnatal check. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Lao PDR was 126 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. Immediate postnatal care (PNC) is a crucial step to improving maternal mortality. The aim of …

Anhedonia Underlies The Association Between Childhood Unpredictability And Adult Ptsd Symptoms: Evidence From Three Independent Longitudinal Cohorts, Christopher Hunt, Laura M. Glynn, Elysia Poggi Davis, Tallie Z. Baram, Caroline M. Nievergelt, Giovanni Castillo, Christian Cortes, Christine Y. Chang, Dewleen Baker, Victoria B. Risbrough

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Unpredictability in the child’s environment has recently emerged as a significant and unique form of early life adversity (ELA). Cross-sectional studies have linked childhood unpredictability with increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adults; however, no prospective studies have tested the link between childhood unpredictability and PTSD risk in later life, nor what processes, such as increased anhedonia symptoms, might mediate such risk. Here, we leveraged three distinct prospective, longitudinal cohorts to test the hypothesis that unpredictability during childhood contributes to adult PTSD via worsening anhedonia symptoms.

Methods

Participants were male service members (n=314), adult females (n=170), and adolescents …

A Physician Survey On Research And Implementation Priorities For Caffeine Citrate Use In Newborn Care In Sub-Saharan Africa, Olufunke Bolaji, Osayame Ekhaguere, Franck Houndjahoue, Nicholas Embleton, Helen Nabwera

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background:Evidence on caffeine citrate (CC) for apnoeaof prematurity (AOP) originate from high-income countries. This study aimed to develop consensus on research design for evidence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods:We surveyed physicians in newborn units across SSA to assess their opinions on CC research and their preferred study designs.

Participants rated four study designs:a) an observational before-and-after study; a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of b) caffeine versus placebo; c) caffeine versus aminophylline; d) a traditional or stepped wedge cluster trial.  They  assessed  each  design  using  a  Likert  scale  for  evidence, feasibility, and ethics considerations.

Results:Ninety-two   newborn   physicians …

Bridging Ipv And Sud For Pregnant And Postpartum Women: A Case Report Of Interdisciplinary Programming In Mississippi, Catherine Poehling, Masoumeh Karimi, Chinedu Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Xiaoshan Gordy, Saijun Zhang, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsanee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Mary M. Wesley, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents in the U.S. South experience disproportionately high rates of bullying, discrimination, depression, and suicidality. Supportive and inclusive school climates are identified as key protective factors that can mitigate these risks and function as primary prevention against violence. This systematic narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed research and high-quality survey reports published between 2015 and 2024 that assess school climate, mental health, and violence-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth with representation from Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 1,167 records …

Racial Disparities Among Pregnant Women Of Color And Their High Risk For Developing Periodontal Disease, Darrylnn Mayo

Pacific Journal of Health

This qualitative study explored the oral health experiences of four women of color during their pregnancies. Data was collected through interviews and presented as case studies. Although existing literature indicated that pregnant women of color are at a higher risk for developing periodontal disease, the participants in this case study reported actively engaging with their dental care providers, daily intake of prenatal vitamins with practice of self-oral care, and compliance with oral hygiene instructions. Further studies should investigate larger sample populations with broader minority ethnic groups to help explore the determinants of racial disparities and strategize ways to reduce barriers …

Association Between Children’S Secondhand Co-Exposure To Tobacco And Cannabis Smoke And Elevated Urinary Cotinine Levels: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Bradley N. Collins, Stephen J. Lepore, Vincent Berardi, Renee D. Goodwin, Karen Wilson, Mona Baishya

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background Cannabis use is far more common among adults who smoke tobacco than adults who do not, and its use is increasing among people who smoke tobacco with children living in the home. Given the well-established evidence that caregiver smoking is the primary source of children’s secondhand exposures to these products, the increasing trend in caregiver co-use is raising public health concerns about children’s co-exposure. Emerging data indicates that adult co-use is linked to additive health consequences, such as elevated nicotine and other tobacco-related toxicant blood levels, relative to use of only tobacco. It is unknown whether children’s co-exposure leads …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Progress, Successes, And Challenges Among Indiana Recipients As Part Of A National Initiative To Reduce Covid-19–Related Health Disparities, Marla Winters, Lily Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding to states as part of the CDC Disparities Grant initiative. The aim of the funding was to reduce chronic disease and COVID-19–related health disparities among vulnerable communities through four unique strategies. Funding was awarded to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to begin an Indiana chapter of this initiative, called Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE). From 2021 to 2023, the IDOH provided I-HOPE funding to local communities (subgrantees) to support the design and implementation of programs to improve community health. For example, …

Determinasi Minimum Dietary Diversity Pada Anak Usia 6-23 Bulan: Analisis Survei Kesehatan Indonesia 2023, Elfys Ferdynan, Besral Besral

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Keragaman pangan minimum atau minimum dietary diversity (MDD) merupakan indikator penting kualitas konsumsi pangan anak usia 6-23 bulan. Pemenuhan MDD berperan dalam mendukung pertumbuhan optimal dan pencegahan malnutrisi, termasuk stunting. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan pemenuhan MDD pada anak usia 6-23 bulan di Indonesia. Data yang digunakan adalah data Survei Kesehatan Indonesia 2023 dengan desain potong lintang. Subjek penelitian adalah 17.991 anak usia 6-23 bulan. Analisis yang dilakukan menggunakan regresi logistik biner dengan penyesuaian desain complex samples. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa faktor yang meningkatkan peluang pemenuhan MDD secara signifikan meliputi usia anak 12-23 bulan, …

Stumping The Federal Effort: Southern States’ Contributions To The United States’ Leading Maternal Mortality Rate, Natalie A. Snook

Arkansas Law Review

Maternal care has reached a terrifying deficit in the United States. Masses of women throughout this nation are dying preventable deaths resulting from extremely lacking prenatal, birthing, delivery, and postnatal care. This is a silent epidemic. Why is the United States failing so miserably in comparison to its fellow developed countries? Why does the gap appear to be widening more and more each day? Various factors lend themselves to an explanation: general factors like the overall shortage of maternal care providers, as well as specific ones such as the not-so surprising fact that the United States is the only developed …

A Pilot Study Evaluating Child Resistant Closures In Pharmaceuticals In The Developing Nation Of Ghana: Informing Global Paediatric Safety And Usability Standards, Samuel Ofosu, Kojo Agyapong Afrifah, Laura Bix

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Despite their proven effectiveness in preventing unintentional paediatric medication poisoning in high-income countries, the performance and usability of Child Resistant Closures (CRCs) remain underexplored in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

To provide pilot data regarding the potential efficacy of using CRCs in LMICs, we conducted a study of the approach in a low-resourced region (Ghana, West Africa) by adapting testing protocols utilized in the United States (16 CFR Part 1700.20). The study utilized a convenience sample of children (n=50; 42-51 months) and adults (n=50; 50-70 years) to develop preliminary data related to the efficacy of a single design of CRC …

Fathers, Futures, And Fragile Contexts: Men’S Intergenerational Perspectives On Pregnancy In A Low-Income South African Setting, Urlridge A. Thompson, Johanni Beukes, Michelle Leal, Stephanie Alcock, Stephen Lye, Shane A. Norris, Catherine Draper

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Men’s involvement in their partner’s pregnancy in low-income South African settings is influenced by a complex interplay of contextual factors that influence the nature and extent of their participation. The confluence of these factors contributes to limiting men’s adoption of an intergenerational perspective of their partner’s pregnancy. The adoption of an intergenerational perspective by men may enhance outcomes for maternal and child health, but it remains understudied. This qualitative study explored intergenerational perspectives of men in Soweto, South Africa, regarding their partners’ pregnancies. An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was employed. We conducted in-depth individual interviews with 19 male partners (fathers …

Mom Is Developing Too: Preliminary Evidence For The Reciprocal Effects Of Infant Sensory Reactivity And Maternal Behavior, Emily C. Sweiss, Vincent Berardi, Elysia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Caregiver sensitivity to infant cues is well-established as a predictor of child development. Infants also actively influence their social environment, especially their caregivers, even from their earliest days. Sensory reactivity, characterized as hypo- (under) and hyper- (over) responding to environmental stimuli, is one domain of development that is likely to influence caregiver-infant interaction, due to its role in regulating emotions and responses to both physical and social stimuli. Although sensory reactivity could be an important target for improving caregiver-child interaction, the longitudinal, reciprocal relations between infant sensory reactivity and caregiver behaviors are currently unknown. In the present proof-of-concept study, we …

Qualitative Exploration Of Factors Associated With Covid-19 Vaccination Among Pregnant Women In Kenya, Violet Naanyu, Ferdinand Okwaro, Ingrid Gichere, Mandeep Sura, Prachi Singh, Berhaun Fesshaye, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted societies worldwide, and COVID-19 vaccination has been identified as instrumental in the fight against the pandemic. While studies have examined uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, more research is needed to gain a better understanding of the factors influencing pregnant women’s decisions to get vaccinated. In this study, we used a cross-sectional descriptive qualitative study to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Kenya. A total of 50 in-depth interviews were conducted between October 2023 to March 2024 with a purposively drawn sample of 25 pregnant and 25 postpartum women during …

Early Neonatal Admissions With Feeding Difficulties To Acute Paediatric Services At A Tertiary Paediatric Hospital In England: Sequential Audits Pre-Covid-19 And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kalvin Lee, Thomas Frederick Dunne, Mary Masoud, Hayley Gleig, Heidi Stott, Helen Nabwera, Halina Kamarova

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction: Our objective was to describe the population of infants < 7 days of age admitted to the acute general paediatric services at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and ascertain the proportion with feeding difficulties amenable to community-based support.

Methods: Sequential retrospective audits of all infants < 7 days of age admitted to acute paediatrics at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, England, from March to September 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and March to September 2020 (during COVID-19). All the infants were born and discharged from maternity units in Merseyside, Northwest England. Anonymised data were extracted from the electronic clinical records by three members of the clinical team.

Results: Pre-COVID-19, 38.6% (93) of the 241 admissions to acute general paediatric services had feeding difficulties. 31.2% (29) presented solely with feeding difficulties and 31.2% (29) were exclusively breastfed. However, during COVID-19, although there were fewer admissions (104), more than half (51%, 54) had feeding difficulties and for 54% (29), this was the only reason for admission. Over half (53.7%, 29) were exclusively breastfed.

Conclusion: Our audits showed that at least a third of infants < 7 days of age admitted with feeding difficulties did not have any other features of severe illness. These admissions unnecessarily expose infants to hospital-acquired infections while disrupting the opportunity for families to build close and loving relationships that enhance the establishment of breastfeeding. Co-designing infant feeding strategies with the mothers and stakeholders will be a crucial next step to enhance infant feeding support, particularly in impoverished communities in the region.

“Now That The Baby Is Out, I Can Be Vaccinated”: A Qualitative Study On Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In Pregnant Women In Kilifi, Kenya, Angela Koech, Onesmus Wanje, Grace Mwashigadi, Geoffrey Katana, Richmond Mdindi, Peter Mwangome, Rachel Craik, Marianne Vidler, Mai-Lei Kinshella, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, but vaccine hesitancy limits uptake and effectiveness. This study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy in Kilifi, coastal Kenya, to elicit reasons for vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and to compile misconceptions around vaccination in pregnancy. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women, mothers who had given birth in the previous 2 years and health workers (community health promoters, nurses, and supervisors). Data were analyzed using thematic template analysis based on the Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix. Concern about vaccine safety for the unborn baby was a major driver of hesitancy. Many pregnant …

Policy, Misinformation, And Mortality: The Effects Of Abortion Restrictions On Maternal Outcomes, Gabrielle Samiratedu Dmsc, Mcms, Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The objective of this review is to evaluate the effects of restrictive abortion laws on maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States. Even before the landmark reversal of Roe v. Wade, the US had one of the highest maternal mortality rates among other high-income countries, and rates are expected to continue to rise in states with restrictive abortion policies. Electronic databases and public health data were analyzed to assess clinical outcomes, access to care, and disparities associated with abortion restrictions nationally and internationally. The findings suggest that states with highly restrictive abortion policies experience higher rates of maternal morbidity …

M-O-M-S On The Bayou: Implementation Of An Intervention To Improve Mental Health After Disaster, E. W. Harville, Gloria Giarratano, M. Patterson, M. Schultheis, K. S. Dorans, S. Turner, S. Harris, S. Longo, K. Weis

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Pregnant women are a vulnerable population after disaster. Their health may be improved through community-based support programs in addition to their standard prenatal care. We conducted a prenatal peer support program, Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M-O-M-S), focused on improving mental health in hurricane-affected areas in southern Louisiana. M-O-M-S consists of six biweekly sessions covering pregnancy acceptance, maternal role identification, family and partner relationships, preparation for labor/fears around labor, well-being/safety of self and baby, and post-delivery health and maternal-infant bonding. The program is led by a “mentor”, an experienced mother but not necessarily a clinician or social worker, who guides the …

Advancing Screening For Intimate Partner Violence In Pregnant Individuals Throughout The Perinatal Period To Prevent Adverse Pregnancy And Maternal Outcomes, Emilia R. Valdez

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Intimate Partner Violence experienced by pregnant individuals contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal health. A mother’s exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can affect their ability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term (38 – 40 weeks gestational age) and places them at risk for comorbidities including; Preterm birth, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Low Birth Weight/ Small for Gestational Age, Premature Rupture of Membranes and Miscarriage. The incidence of IPV screening is not accessible to all pregnant individuals due to healthcare providers lack of education, time constraints in the workplace, bias and discomfort towards IPV. The implementation of IPV …

Location Of Births By Health Facility Type: A Time Trend Analysis From 1995 To 2023 In 130 Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Anna Gage, Madeleine Conrad, Chiara Sumich, Wes Warriner, Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas, Corinne Bintz, Kelly Bienhoff, Jessica Bishai, Abdu Mohiddin, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: With major increases in facility births in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) since 1995, a key question is what types of facilities met the increased demand. Understanding the evolving delivery landscape is crucial to informing debates about optimal models for balancing access, quality, and equity. We studied the distribution of delivery location by health facility level and sector (private versus public) in 130 LMICs from 1995 to 2023.

Methods: We used 745 data sources with delivery location information in our analysis. We first categorised births as in-facility or not, then further classified facility births by level (hospital …

Large Language Model-Assisted Research Question Development In Public Health: A Case Study In The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic), Qi Zhang, Bidusha Neupane, Priyanka Patel, Futun N. Alkhalifah, Yi He, Leslie Hodges

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Objective:

To assess the feasibility of using large language models (LLMs) to develop research questions about changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages.

Design:

We conducted a controlled experiment using ChatGPT-4 and its plugin, MixerBox Scholarly, to generate research questions based on a section of the USDA summary of the final public comments on the WIC revision. Five questions weekly for three weeks were generated using LLMs under two conditions: fed with or without relevant literature. The experiment generated 90 questions, which were evaluated using the FINER criteria (Feasibility, Innovation, Novelty, Ethics, …

Caught In The Midwife’S Hands: A Black Feminist Exploration Of Reproductive Health And Justice In Massachusetts, Nina Bakum

Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

Meconium Metal Concentrations And Infant Temperament And Development, Fiona Fogarty

Dissertations and Theses

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to metals poses significant health consequences for early childhood development. Understanding the factors influencing metal concentrations that infants are exposed to in-utero is crucial for developing targeted interventions, particularly when maternal characteristics and environmental factors, may contribute to varying levels. Meconium offers insight into in-utero exposures for the developing infant, and the effect of each individual metal may be mediated or exacerbated by another and therefore should be studied in the context of a mixture. The effect of metal mixture exposure, as measured in meconium, on milestone and temperament outcomes has yet to be determined.

DESIGN: …

Feeding Mode Is Associated With Infant Night Sleep Trajectories During The First Postnatal Year, Magdalena Olson, Li Liu, Elizabeth Reifsnider, Dean V. Coonrod, Sarada S. Panchanathan, Megan E. Petrov, Corrie M. Whisner

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Short sleep and formula feeding during infancy are associated with increased risk of childhood obesity. Feeding practices and sleep arrangements vary during infancy and may also be dynamic, yet their impact on infant night sleep duration remains unclear. Understanding these relationships is crucial for formulating recommendations to support breastfeeding and address sleep concerns. Objective: We examined the association between feeding mode and parent-reported infant night sleep duration during the first postnatal year, while additionally evaluating night-weaning and bedsharing as contextual sleep-related practices. Methods: Infants in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (n = 193) were followed up at 3, 8, 13, …

Longitudinal Implementation Of A Neurodevelopmental Screening Program For Children Born To Mothers Living With Hiv In Maternal–Child Clinics In Kenya: A Mixed Methods Study, Megan S. Mchenry, Eren Oyungu, Amina Abubakar, Ananda Roselyne Ombitsa, Micaela Gaviola, Cleophas Cherop, Beatrice Kaniaru, Carolyne Jerop, Alan Mcguire, Rachel C. Vreeman

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Children with perinatal HIV exposure are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental (ND) delays, yet little is known about ND screening implementation for this population.

Methods: This longitudinal study evaluated ND screening implementation at a health clinic in Kenya, from 9/2021 to 8/2023. Children aged 18-36 months with perinatal HIV exposure were screened using a 12-item general ND tool. Implementation outcomes—acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability—were assessed through time-motion observations, clinic records, and semi-structured interviews with caregivers and staff.

Results: Of 507 eligible children, 405 (80%) were screened. Screening rates were consistent over 24 months, with average time …

Parental Psychological Distress And Perceived Child Externalizing Behaviors: Examining Mediators And Bidirectional Effects, Abigail J. Anderson, Christina M. Rodriguez, James M. Henson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Parental psychological distress is a commonly examined risk factor for the emergence of child problem behaviors, but the factors that contribute to that relationship—such as limited parental resources like greater social support and coping skills—have not been adequately explored, particularly with attention to potential bidirectional relations that incorporate child evocative effects. The current longitudinal study examined maternal and paternal psychological distress in relation to perceived child externalizing behaviors, considering parental resources as mediators within a bidirectional model. The sample included a racially and socioeconomically diverse group of 201 primiparous mothers and 151 fathers. Mothers and fathers reported their current psychological …

Feeding Missoula: Food Insecurity In Rural Children And Youth, Chani Brammer, Braelee Cheeks, Jordin Holland, Rayne Mccollough, Laurel Palmer, Therese Solomon

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

In Montana, approximately one in seven children live in a food-insecure household, with rural Montanans in particular facing significant barriers. Existing needs-based food assistance programs, such as SNAP and WIC, have structural weaknesses: SNAP benefits are often not sufficient to last through the month, and those eligible for these programs face a confusing application process, shame and stigma, and logistical hurdles, such as limited transportation.

“Feeding Missoula” began with an evaluation of how current food assistance programs met or failed to meet the needs of rural youth. Our methodology integrated a comprehensive review of existing literature and structured interviews with …

"It's A Dance": Examining Midwives As Choreographers Of Reproduction In Maine, Annie Goldstein

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the contemporary work of community-based Maine midwives through the theoretical framework of choreography. In the context of this work, choreography can be understood as the well-thought-out, purposeful undertaking of a process during which negotiation, coordination, and improvisation are required to adapt to constantly changing circumstances. Using choreography, this thesis attempts to understand how Maine midwives navigate global market processes and practice under authoritative forms of biomedicine, ultimately linking them to other midwives across various global sites. Situated within Maine’s maternal health landscape that is characterized by the ongoing closure of labor and delivery units and rural hospitals, …