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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Items in this list may be obtained from the sources cited. Contact information reflects the most current data about the source that has been provided to the MCH Digital Library.


Displaying records 1 through 20 (516 total).

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. n.d.. Improving access to maternal health care in rural communities. Baltimore, MD: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 62 pp.

Annotation: This issue brief provides background information on rural healthcare access and focuses attention on the need for national, state, and community-based organizations to collaborate on developing an action plan to improve access to maternal health care and improve outcomes for rural women and their babies. It addresses the challenges that rural women face before, during, and after pregnancy and highlights promising approaches and opportunities to improve maternal health care in rural communities. Six case studies address several factors contributing to problems accessing maternal health care in rural communities, including workforce shortages and access to care challenges associated with social determinants of health. They illustrate efforts to stabilize rural hospital obstetrical services, regionalization and coordination of care, quality improvement initiatives, training and guideline development, provider recruitment and retention strategies, and expansion of care models

Contact: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244, Telephone: (800) 633-4227 Secondary Telephone: (877) 267-2323 Fax: Web Site: https://www.cms.gov

Keywords: Barriers, Case studies, Health care access, Health equity, Maternal health, Rural health, Rural population, Statistics

Commonwealth Fund. 2025. How Medicaid helps your state . New York, NY: Commonwealth Fund,

Annotation: This interactive website presents an overview of how Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide coverage across the United States. It offers state-specific fact sheets showing enrollment data, federal support, and the impact of Medicaid on different populations. The website features a color-coded map displaying Medicaid and CHIP enrollment per 1,000 state residents ages 0-64, allowing users to click on individual states to access detailed information. Key topics covered include Medicaid's role as the largest health insurer in the U.S., its coverage of various health services, evidence of improved health outcomes, and its financial importance to healthcare providers in both rural and urban areas. State fact sheets like Virginia's provide specific enrollment statistics, federal funding information, and data on how Medicaid serves children, adults, rural communities, and individuals with mental health needs.

Contact: Commonwealth Fund, One East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021, Telephone: (212) 606-3800 Fax: (212) 606-3500 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.commonwealthfund.org

Keywords: Child health, Data, Enrollment, Maternal health, Medicaid, State aid, State health insurance programs, Statistics

Maven Clinic . 2025. Maven’s state of women’s & family health benefits: How rising costs and evolving needs are reshaping workplace benefits . New York, NY: Maven Clinic, 35 pp.

Annotation: This report presents findings on the state of women's and family health benefits in the workplace based on two surveys conducted in October-November 2024. It addresses challenges facing employees and employers, including rising healthcare costs, burnout among working parents, and increased anxiety around reproductive health. The report highlights how companies are responding through expanded benefits, with 69% planning to increase family health benefits vendors in the coming years. It discusses the benefits of offering comprehensive women's and family health support, including improved employee retention and reduced healthcare costs. The report includes specific statistics on employer and employee priorities, testimonials from benefits leaders, and guidance for designing effective family benefits programs. Sections cover topics such as fertility support, parenting challenges, men's reproductive health, and the role of digital health solutions in improving outcomes.

Contact: Maven Clinic , , New York, NY 10013, E-mail: https://www.mavenclinic.com/contact Web Site: https://www.mavenclinic.com/

Keywords: Employer health costs, Family support services, Health Benefits Plans, Employee, Insurance benefits, Maternal health, Perinatal care, Reproductive health services, Statistics, Surveys, Trends, Women', Workplace health promotion, s health

Beltrán-Aguilar E, Lin M, Wei L, Thornton-Evans G, Li CH, Espinoza L. 2024. Oral health surveillance report: Dental caries, tooth retention, and edentulism, United States—2017–March 2020. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health, 24 pp.

Annotation: This report presents an analysis of surveillance data on prevalence of tooth decay in primary and permanent teeth, tooth retention, and edentulism. An editorial comment is included. Statistical information is presented in figures and tables.

Contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, Telephone: (800) 232-4636 Secondary Telephone: (888) 232-6348 E-mail: https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/forms/contact-us.html Web Site: http://www.cdc.gov Available at no charge; also available from the website.

Keywords: Dental caries, Fluoride, Older adults, Oral health, Population surveillance, Public health, Statistics

Gunja M et al. 2024. Insights into the U.S. maternal mortality crisis: An international comparison. New York, NY: Commonwealth Fund,

Annotation: This report examines international maternal mortality data from 2022, comparing rates across high-income countries with particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in the United States. It presents data on the timing of pregnancy-related deaths, showing that 65% occur during the postpartum period, and analyzes healthcare workforce capacity by comparing the number of obstetrician-gynecologists and midwives per 1,000 live births across countries. The report also compares federally mandated paid maternity, parental, and home care leave policies among high-income nations, highlighting significant disparities in access to care and support services.

Contact: Commonwealth Fund, One East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021, Telephone: (212) 606-3800 Fax: (212) 606-3500 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.commonwealthfund.org

Keywords: Data, International health, Maternal mortality, Public policy, Statistics, Trends

Children's Defense Fund. 2023. The state of America's children. Washington, DC: Children's Defense Fund, irregular.

Annotation: This series of reports is a compilation and analysis of national and U.S. state-by-state data on child population, child poverty, family structure, family income, housing and homelessness, hunger and nutrition, health, early childhood, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and gun violence. Changes in key child and national well-being indicators are included.

Contact: Children's Defense Fund, 25 E Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001, Telephone: (202) 628-8787 Secondary Telephone: (800) 233-1200 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.childrensdefense.org Available from the website.

Keywords: Child health, Child nutrition, Child welfare, Data, Early childhood development, Education, Ethnic groups, Family characteristics, Gun violence, High risk groups, Population surveillance, Poverty, Statistics, Trends

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. 2023. Medicaid access in brief: Children and youth with special health care needs . Washington, DC: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, 14 pp.

Annotation: This issue brief uses data from the 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) to examine differences in health status, access to care, referrals, needed care, and the cost of care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) covered by Medicaid with those covered by private insurance and those without insurance. Included are selected demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of CYSHCN (Ages 0-17); their health status, use of care, and quality of care according to insurance status; and the percentage of CYSHCN in each state and the source of their health insurance coverage (Medicaid, private only, or both).

Contact: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, 1800 M Street, N.W., Suite 360 South, Washington, DC 20036, Telephone: (202) 350-2000 Fax: (202) 273-2452 E-mail: https://www.macpac.gov/contact-us/ Web Site: http://www.macpac.gov

Keywords: Access to care, Adolescents with special health care needs, Children with special health care needs, Costs, Data, Health status, Medicaid, Statistics

Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center. 2023. Advance data collection, standardization, harmonization, transparency,research, and analysis. Chapel Hill, NC: Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center, 13 pp. (White House blueprint evidence to action brief )

Annotation: This brief highlights Goal 3 of the White House blueprint for addressing the maternal health crisis, which is to advance data collection, standardization, harmonization, transparency, research, and analysis. The brief outlines the need to mprove data collection by enhancing MMRC (Maternal Mortality and Review Committee) data to inform maternal health interventions; bolster research and build the next generation of maternal health researchers; and better understand conditions that impact pregnancy. Evidence-informed strategies for improvement, criteria for states to consider when developing strategies, and additional resources are included. Statistics indicate which states are funded to enhance maternal mortality review and surveillance; the percentage of epidemiologists employed at the state and jurisdiction levels by program area; and the states that participate in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).

Contact: Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC Web Site: https://maternalhealthlearning.org/

Keywords: Data collection, Initiatives, Maternal health, Monitoring, Population surveillance, Risk assessment, Statistics

Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center. 2023. Expand and diversify the perinatal workforce. Chapel Hill, NC: Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center, 14 pp. (White House blueprint evidence to action briefs )

Annotation: This action brief describes the need to expand and diversify the perinatal workforce to meet the nation's health care needs. Compounding the limited access to maternal health care professionals, the brief highlights the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the workforce and recommends increasing the number of nurses, health aids, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, and community health workers to help bridge the gap. Statistics on maternity care desserts and employment of obstetricians and gynecologists by state are included The brief also describes the numerous factors that influence the lack of maternal health care practitioners in the U.S. and includes a list of innovative projects and programs aimed at addressing the issue.

Contact: Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC Web Site: https://maternalhealthlearning.org/

Keywords: Access to care, Barriers, Healtah equity, Initiatives, Maternal health, Perinatal care, Statistics, Work force

Allen C; Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. 2023. The intersection of quality and equity. Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health , (AIM for Safer Birth Podcast Series)

Annotation: In this podcast episode, host Christie Allen and Dr. Gillispie-Bell discuss the integration of equity and quality when addressing severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality rates in the United States with a data-driven approach. Learn how the healthcare landscape has transformed to encompass not just clinical excellence, but also inclusive care that honors each individual's unique experiences and values. Discover the journey from recognizing racial and ethnic disparities to crafting a comprehensive approach that combines respectful, equitable, and supportive care. This episode is part of the AIM for Safer Birth series of podcasts that dive deeper into the rising severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality rates in the United States through a data-driven, quality improvement lens.

Contact: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, 409 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20024, E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: https://saferbirth.org/

Keywords: Cultural sensitivity, Data, Health care disparities, Health equity, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Quality improvement, statistics

Bamel D, Johnson M, Renton M. 2023. Reducing inequalities in postpartum maternal morbidity and mortality. Boston, MA: Institute for Healthcare Improvement ,

Annotation: This article discusses the postpartum period as an opportunity for preventing maternal harm and death while improving health equity. It presents findings from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 90-day Innovation cycle identifying hospital interventions to improve postpartum care, particularly for Black women who experience 3.5 times higher maternal mortality rates than white women. The article outlines four key intervention areas: reducing variability in discharge education, offering implicit bias training, forming strategic partnerships, and promoting continuity of care across departments. The process map diagram visually represents the Innovation Team's research findings, highlighting current challenges and opportunities for improvement in postpartum care pathways. The article describes issues in discharge processes, post-birth warning signs, follow-up care models, and patient-centered design. It concludes with information about a Learning Community initiative with five birthing hospitals that began in January 2023, funded by Merck for Mothers.

Contact: Institute for Healthcare Improvement , 20 University Road, Seventh Floor , Cambridge , MA 02138, Telephone: (617) 301-4800 Secondary Telephone: (866) 787-0831 Fax: (617) 301-4830 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.ihi.org

Keywords: Quality improvement, Blacks, Health care disparities, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Models, Postpartum care, Prevention, Statistics

Children's Safety Network. 2022. Injury prevention: What works?—A summary of cost-outcome analysis for injury prevention programs (2022 update). Newton, MA: Children's Safety Network Economics and Data Analysis Resource Center; Calverton, MD: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), 34 pp.

Annotation: This report presents information on methods for conducting cost-outcome analysis for a number of child, adolescent, and adult injury prevention and intervention programs, followed by data and analysis for specific program types. Topics include motor vehicle and pedestrian safety intervention, impaired driving and pedestrian intervention, open-flame and burn prevention, violence prevention, substance abuse intervention, and health services and miscellaneous injury prevention. Data tables, a glossary, and references are provided.

Contact: Children's Safety Network, Education Development Center, 43 Foundry Avenue, Waltham, MA 02453-8313, Telephone: (617) 618-2918 Fax: (617) 969-9186 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org Available from the website.

Keywords: Adolescents, Adults, Burn prevention, Children, Cost benefit analysis, Impaired driving, Injury prevention, Motor vehicle safety, Pedestrians, Prevention programs, Preventive health services, Statistics, Substance abuse treatment, Violence prevention

March of Dimes. 2022. Nowhere to go: Maternity care deserts across the U.S.. White Plains, NY: March of Dimes, 36 pp.

Annotation: This report builds upon the 2022 report and continues to identify counties where a woman’s access to maternity health services may be limited or absent. It describes policy solutions and actions; gives summary data about maternity care deserts with a map showing each county in the U.S. and its level of access to maternity care; characteristics of maternity care deserts; information about and maps of hospitals, birth centers, providers, midwives and doulas; health insurance coverage; perinatal regionalization and risk-appropriate levels of care; and the covid-19 pandemic and access to maternity care.

Contact: March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, Telephone: (914) 997-4488 Secondary Telephone: Web Site: http://www.marchofdimes.com Available from the website.

Keywords: Access to care, Infant health, Maternal health, Perinatal health, Pregnant women, State surveys, Statistics

U.S. Government Accountability Office . 2022. Maternal health: Outcomes worsened and disparities persisted during the pandemic . Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office , 32 pp.

Annotation: This report to Congress describes 1) available federal data and what it reveals about maternal and neonatal outcomes and disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the pandemic to address maternal health outcomes and disparities. The data is from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics’ (NCHS) National Vital Statistics System and its Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a state-level surveillance system of survey-based data on maternal behaviors, attitudes, and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

Contact: U.S. Government Accountability Office, 441 G Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20548, Telephone: (202) 512-3000 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.gao.gov

Keywords: Data, Ethnic factors, Federal initiatives , Infectious diseases, Low birthweight, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Neonatal morbidity, Prenancy complications, Preterm birth, Racial factors, Statistics, Virus diseases

Jabbarpour Y, Greiner A, Jetty A, Kempski A, Kamerow D, Walter G, Sibel J. 2022. Relationships matter: How usual is usual source of (primary) care? . Washington, DC: Primary Care Collaborative , 56 pp.

Annotation: This evidence report emphasizes the importance of having a usual source of primary care and lays out strategies for public and private payers to support such patient/provider relationships. In its review of the literature, the report summarizes the types of usual source of care and trends over time across ages, races/ethnicities, income level, region, and insurance type. Potential solutions to increase the percent of children and adults who have a usual source of primary care include payment reform, changes in benefit design, and workforce diversity.

Contact: Primary Care Collaborative, 601 Thirteenth Street, NW, Suite 430 North, Washington, DC 20005, Telephone: (202) 417-2074 Fax: (202) 417-2082 E-mail: Web Site: https://thepcc.org/

Keywords: Age factors, Economic factors, Ethnic factors, Geographic regions, Health insurance, Literature reviews, Primary care, Racial factors, Statistics, Trends.

Eggen M, Stanev N, Creel L. 2022. Maternal mortality in Kentucky . Louisville, KY: University Louisville, Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky,

Annotation: This issue brief describes maternal mortality in Kentucky, where the rate (40.8 per 100,000 live births in 2018) significantly exceeds the national average. The document examines definitions and measurement of maternal mortality, explores root causes including substance use and racial disparities, and discusses social determinants of health that contribute to maternal deaths. It details Kentucky's recent initiatives to address the problem, including the establishment of the Kentucky Maternal Mortality Review Committee in 2018, the Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative in 2019, and participation in the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health in 2021. The brief outlines legislative efforts to address maternal mortality and provides recommendations for improving maternal health in the Commonwealth, including investing in data collection and analysis capacity, exploring social determinants of maternal mortality, and broadly disseminating research findings to stakeholders. It emphasizes that 78% of maternal deaths in Kentucky were identified as preventable, compared to 60% at the national level.

Contact: University Louisville, Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky, 485 E. Gray Street, Louisville, KY 40202, Telephone: (502) 852-3299 Web Site: https://louisville.edu/sphis/departments/cik

Keywords: , Data, Kentucky, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Prevention, Quality improvement, State initiatives, Statistics

Smith JC, Medalia C. 2021. Health insurance coverage in the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, irregulator. (Current population reports )

Annotation: This report presents statistics on health insurance coverage in the United States based on information collected in the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement and the American Community Survey (ACS). The report presents an overall estimate of the year-to-year change in the health insurance coverage rates based on the ACS. Reports from prior years of the survey (1994 to 2020) are also available from the website. (Note: Due to the redesign of the health insurance section of the CPS ASEC, its estimates of health insurance coverage are not directly comparable to estimates from earlier years of the survey.)

Contact: U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233, Telephone: (301) 763-4748 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.census.gov Available from the website.

Keywords: Health insurance, Statistics

Williams E, and Musumeci MB. 2021. Children with Special Health Care Needs: Coverage, Affordability, and HCBS Access. Menlo Park, CA: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation,

Annotation: This issue brief describes key characteristics of children with special health care needs and explores insurance affordability, adequacy of coverage, and benefits for children covered by Medicaid/CHIP compared to those with private insurance only. The brief provides a context for ongoing policy discussions around additional investments in Medicaid, including home and community-based services (HCBS), for children with special health care needs.

Contact: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Telephone: (650) 854-9400 Secondary Telephone: (202) 347-5270 Fax: (650) 854-4800 Web Site: http://www.kff.org

Keywords: Children with special health care needs, Community based services, Health care costs, Health insurance, Home care, Medicaid, Public assistance, Special health care services, Statistics

Lloyd CM, Shaw S, Alvira-Hammond M, Hazelwood AM, DeMand A. 2021. Racism and discrimination contribute to housing instability for black families during the pandemic. Bethesda, MD: Child Trends , 7 pp.

Annotation: This issue brief presents recent data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black families’ access to stable housing in the United States and, at the local level, in Newark, New Jersey. It places the problem of housing instability within geographical context, comparing national findings on Black families' housing needs with those found in the South ward of Newark. The brief highlights the need for a policy agenda that addresses disparities in access to basic needs and provides recommendations for local policy makers and community leaders in support of equitable access to stable housing.

Contact: Child Trends , 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1200 W, Bethesda, MD 20814, Telephone: (240) 223-9200 E-mail: Web Site: http://www.childtrends.org

Keywords: Blacks, Child health, Data, Families, Homeless persons, Homelessness, Housing, Policy development, Statistics, Trends

U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 2020. Children with special health care needs. Rockville, MD: U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, 3 pp. (NSCH data brief)

Annotation: This brief provides a 2017-2018 data snapshot of children and youth with special health care needs (CHSYCN) from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). It covers types of special health care needs in this population, frequency/degree of activity limitations, prevalence of certain health conditions, key indicators and effective systems. It also describes the NCSH data collection.

Contact: U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-2170 Web Site: https://mchb.hrsa.gov Available from the website.

Keywords: Adolescents with special health care needs, Children with special health care needs, Statistics

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The MCH Digital Library is one of six special collections at Geogetown University, the nation's oldest Jesuit institution of higher education. It is supported in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under award number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy with an award of $700,000/year. The library is also supported through foundation and univerity funding. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.