Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: This report describes the maternal mortality review process in the state of New Mexico, presents key findings on pregnancy-associated deaths in the state for the period 2015-2018, and provides recommendations from the Review Committee aimed at reducing maternal deaths. The data indicates cause of death, race/ethnicity, place of birth, type of insurance, and other factors.

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Keywords: Committees, Maternal death, Maternal mortality, Models, New Mexico , Prevention, Research, State programs, Statistics

Annotation: This toolkit provides home visiting programs with client education materials and implementation tools to support maternal warning signs education. This education covers the important signs of maternal complications that may occur during pregnancy and the year after delivery. The toolkit includes an illustrated handout and discussion guide available in 12 languages, a video available in English, Spanish and French, a magnet, and online training for home visitors with an implementation manual. The materials are designed for home visitors working with pregnant and postpartum clients to educate them about urgent maternal warning signs that require immediate medical attention. All digital resources are available through a shared Google Drive folder.

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Keywords: Home visits, Maternal mortality, Patient education materials, Prevention, Resources for professionals

Annotation: This video presents an educational presentation by Dr. Shari Lawson, a general obstetrician gynecologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, covering urgent maternal warning signs for pregnant and postpartum women up to two months after delivery. The presentation discusses signs of preeclampsia including severe headaches, vision changes, extreme swelling, and severe nausea; other pregnancy warning signs such as severe abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and decreased fetal movement; postpartum complications including heavy bleeding and blood clots; and mental health concerns including depression and thoughts of self-harm. The video emphasizes the importance of seeking immediate medical attention when experiencing these symptoms and encourages sharing this information with family members to support maternal health. This video is available in English, Spanish and French as part of a comprehensive maternal warning signs toolkit for home visiting programs.

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Keywords: Maternal mortality, Patient education materials, Prevention

Annotation: These recommendations from the American Heart Association provide a framework for enhancing postpartum systems of care to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The document outlines strategies for standardizing clinical education, defining the postpartum period as one year, and evaluating cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. It emphasizes the importance of patient-centered holistic care through collaboration with midwives and doulas and advocates for 12 months of comprehensive health coverage for all postpartum people. Discussion also covers identifying social determinants of health and improving data collection through a national database for quality performance

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Keywords: Guidelines, Health care systems, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Postpartum care, Prevention

Annotation: This website provides information about the Healthy Start program, administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), that works to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy in high-risk communities. The program focuses on enhancing mothers' health, preventing infant death, and eliminating health disparities through comprehensive, personalized care. The website offers several key resources, including a downloadable Healthy Start Fact Sheet providing program overview, links to evaluation reports showing program effectiveness, information about the Healthy Start EPIC Center for training and technical assistance, and access to the CAREWare database system for data management. Visitors can also find a program locator tool to find local Healthy Start sites, details about grant awards from 2019-2024 (including specific community-based doula initiatives), and contact information for additional questions. The site highlights program accomplishments, showing that Healthy Start participants receive early prenatal care, well-woman visits, and depression/interpersonal violence screenings at higher rates than national averages. The website also explains the structure of the Community Consortium approach and describes the Alumni Peer Navigator initiative that employs former program participants to help current families access needed services.

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Keywords: Health care disparities, Health promotion, Healthy Start, Infant health services, Infant mortality, Maternal health services, Perinatal care, Prevention

Annotation: This fact sheet describes maternal mortality review as a comprehensive process to identify, review, and analyze deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, and the year postpartum to improve systems of care and prevent future tragedies. The document explains that this work is carried out by Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs), which are multidisciplinary state- or jurisdiction-based groups that conduct in-depth reviews of each death to determine critical factors and craft tailored recommendations. It describes how Congress passed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act in 2018, which authorized the CDC's Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) program to provide funding and technical assistance to MMRCs in over 50 states and jurisdictions. The fact sheet outlines the alignment between MMRCs and the Title V MCH Services Block Grant, noting that MMRCs offer distinct qualitative, case-based insights that can inform Title V priority setting and planning.

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Keywords: Information dissemination, Legislation, Maternal death, Maternal mortality, Prevention, Research

Annotation: This report presents findings from the Maryland Maternal Health Innovation Program's (MDMOM) facility-based Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) Surveillance and Review program for 2024, analyzing 340 SMM events identified at participating hospitals following the passage of the Maternal Health Act of 2024 requiring all birthing hospitals in the state to participate in SMM surveillance beginning in 2025. The program uses a standardized case definition of intensive care unit admission and/or transfusion of four or more units of blood products for pregnant and postpartum patients up to 42 days postpartum. Hospital review committees analyzed events to determine preventability, identify contributing factors, and develop recommendations organized by the "5Rs" framework of readiness, recognition and prevention, response, reporting and system learning, and respectful care. The report documents that 32% of SMM events were potentially preventable, with obstetric hemorrhage being the most common primary cause, and includes demographic characteristics, delivery outcomes, and specific recommendations for preventing future severe maternal morbidity by cause and racial/ethnic disparities in SMM rates.

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Keywords: Maryland, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Population surveillance, Postpartum hemorrhage, Prevention, Standards

Annotation: This workbook provides guidance on addressing fatal injuries, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV), homicide, suicide, and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), as significant contributors to maternal mortality. It summarizes the evidence on the heightened risks of homicide and suicide for pregnant and postpartum women, with disparities among adolescents, Black women, and those with mental health conditions or IPV history. Environmental factors like poverty, lack of support, and firearm access also play a role. The workbook presents concerning data from Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review on injury-related deaths, finding that homicides and suicides, often involving firearms and IPV, accounted for a significant portion of pregnancy-related mortality. Younger women, Black women, Medicaid participants, and those in metropolitan areas were disproportionately impacted. MVCs were a leading cause of deaths not directly related to pregnancy. Key recommendations are provided for healthcare providers and community organizations to improve screening, intervention, support, and prevention efforts around mental health, IPV, and vehicle safety to reduce maternal injury deaths. Resources and references are included for further training and implementation.

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Keywords: Data, Guidelines, Injury prevention, Maternal mortality, Missouri, Risk factors, State initiatives

Annotation: This workbook provides guidance for implementing evidence-based practices to improve care for pregnant and postpartum individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). It summarizes the evidence on the significant risks of CVD in pregnancy, which can exacerbate pre-existing conditions or lead to new disorders due to the hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. The workbook presents data from Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review, finding that CVD accounted for 30% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2017-2021, with most deemed preventable and Black women disproportionately impacted. To address this crisis, the AIM Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care patient safety bundle components are provided, with detailed strategies for implementing universal cardiac risk screening, rapid response protocols, cardio-obstetric teams, care coordination, patient education, and equity-focused data monitoring. Emphasis is placed on early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment to prevent complications and death. Resources and references are included for further training and implementation.

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Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, Evidence-based medicine, Guidelines, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Missouri, Obstetrical complications, Perinatal care, Postpartum care, Prevention, Quality improvement, Resources for professionals, State initiatives

Annotation: This web page from the South Carolina Department of Public Health addresses the state's high maternal mortality rate, which ranks 8th in the United States, noting that nearly 90% of pregnancy-related deaths—the majority of which occur in the postpartum period—are preventable. The site highlights stark disparities, with the mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women being nearly double that of non-Hispanic White women, and lists the top three leading causes as Infections, Mental Health Conditions/Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and Embolism. The site includes an illustrated list of the urgent maternal warning signs developed by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care. The page also links to the Tracking Reproductive Health Dashboard and a booklet for new parents.

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Keywords: Data, Maternal mortality, Postpartum care, Prevention, South Carolina, State health agencies, State initiatives

Annotation: This tip sheet from the March of Dimes for friends, family, and neighbors provides strategies to support individuals who have recently given birth during the postpartum period. It identifies critical physical and mental health warning signs requiring medical attention, such as chest discomfort, breathing difficulties, and symptoms of postpartum depression or preeclampsia. The resource offers conversation starters to encourage open communication and outlines practical ways to help, including providing meals, assisting with childcare, and managing household chores. Available in English and Spanish.

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Keywords: Communication, Maternal mortality, Patient education, Postpartum care, Prevention

Annotation: This guide for parents describes how to recognize and address health concerns following childbirth. It identifies critical physical and mental health warning signs requiring medical attention, such as chest pain, vision changes, and persistent feelings of sadness or anxiety. The document provides strategies for self-care, wellness, and self-advocacy, along with conversation starters to help individuals who have recently given birth request support from family and friends. Available in English and Spanish.

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Keywords: Communication, Maternal mortality, Mental health, Patient education, Postpartum care, Postpartum depression, prevention

Annotation: This website showcases the IMPROVE initiative, launched by the National Institutes of Health in 2019, to support research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve health for women before, during, and after pregnancy. The site describes the multi-pronged research initiative, emphasizing its focus on those disproportionately affected by maternal morbidity and mortality, including African American/Black, American Indian/Alaska Native populations, people of advanced maternal age, and people with disabilities. Links to research and funding opportunities, webinars and virtual workshops, funded projects, and resources for the public and for researchers are included.

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Keywords: Federal initiatives, Grants , Maternal health, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Prevention programs, Research, Research programs

Annotation: This report provides an overview of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant program authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act. The report describes the program's three main components: State MCH Block Grants (the largest component, providing formula grants to states and territories), Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS), and Community Integrated Service Systems (CISS). It details the program's history, funding mechanisms, services provided, populations served, and reporting requirements. The report outlines how states use these funds to address the unique needs of pregnant women, infants, children, and children with special health care needs through direct health care services, enabling services, and public health services and systems. It also examines recent funding trends, highlighting shifts in allocations among the three components and changes in state expenditure patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic. The document concludes with policy considerations for Congress regarding funding allocation formulas, program coordination, and oversight accountability.

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Keywords: Block grants, Data, Funding, Initiatives, Legislation, Maternal health, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Measures, Medicaid, Prevention, Title V programs

Annotation: This report presents findings from the Maryland Maternal Health Innovation Program's (MDMOM) facility-based Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) Surveillance and Review program for 2023, covering 279 SMM events identified at 27 participating hospitals representing more than 80% of births in the state. The program uses a standardized case definition of intensive care unit admission and/or transfusion of four or more units of blood products for pregnant and postpartum patients up to 42 days. Hospital review committees analyzed events to determine preventability, identify contributing factors, and develop recommendations organized by the "5Rs" framework of readiness, recognition and prevention, response, reporting and system learning, and respectful care. The report documents that 34% of SMM events were potentially preventable, with obstetric hemorrhage being the most common primary cause, and includes detailed analysis of demographic characteristics, timing of events, delivery outcomes, and specific recommendations for preventing future severe maternal morbidity by cause.

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Keywords: Maryland, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Population surveillance, Postpartum hemorrhage, Prevention, Standards

Annotation: This report highlights findings from the Improving Postpartum Care Affinity Group, a quality improvement initiative convened by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from April 2021 to April 2023. Nine states participated in the affinity group to develop and test interventions addressing the high rates of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, with nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths occurring during the postpartum period. The report describes how state teams used data-driven approaches to identify disparities and quality improvement opportunities, select measures to monitor their projects, and evaluate intervention impacts. It presents four main categories of interventions tested by participating states: targeted case management services for high-risk beneficiaries, postpartum cardiac care including blood pressure monitoring and cardiomyopathy protocols, support from doulas and community health workers with home visiting programs, and beneficiary and provider education and support tools. The document includes specific examples from states such as South Carolina's pilot addressing gaps in behavioral health screening, Georgia's work to improve provider use of postpartum visit codes, and Texas's blood pressure cuff distribution program for hypertensive beneficiaries.

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Keywords: Data analysis, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Missouri, Models, Oklahoma, Postpartum care, Prevention, Quality improvement, South Carolina, State initiatives, Texas, Wyoming

Annotation: This web content for parents describes common postpartum complications and the importance of recognizing warning signs following childbirth. It addresses life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, sepsis, and hemorrhage while highlighting the disproportionate risks faced by Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native people. The site provides specific criteria for seeking emergency medical care and outlines recommendations for developing a postpartum care plan that includes frequent contact with healthcare professionals. Discussion also covers barriers to care for individuals with low incomes and those who lack insurance. This content is also available in Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish

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Keywords: Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality prevention, Patient education , Postpartum care

Annotation: This issue brief highlights the increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality among Black women; explores the drivers that contribute to the Black maternal health crisis, and recommends strategies to transform the delivery of Black maternal health care to improve health outcomes. Providing culturally-centered care by diverse health teams; destigmatizing and treating Black maternal mental health; protect and expand access to reproductive health care; eliminating economic inequities; and collecting and using intersectional data are among the approaches highlighted. The brief also discusses the importance of community, describing how shared resistance, resilience, and joy help define Black maternal health.

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Keywords: Blacks, Health care disparities, Health equity, Maternal health, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Prevention

Annotation: This issue brief highlights Action 2.2 from the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which focuses on strengthening community participation in Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs), particularly among communities of color. The document examines the critical role of MMRCs in reviewing pregnancy-related deaths and making recommendations to prevent future deaths, with special attention to the importance of including diverse community voices and lived experiences in these reviews. It provides detailed information about current MMRC implementation across states, highlights key challenges like limited rural representation and transparency issues, and outlines specific innovations being implemented by states like Arizona and Maryland to increase meaningful community engagement. The brief includes recommendations from the Black Mamas Matter Alliance for enhancing equity and community participation in MMRC processes.

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Keywords: Blacks, Community participation, Health care disparities, Health equity, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Minority groups, Outreach, Prevention, State initiatives

Annotation: This evidence-to-action brief focuses on Action 1.4 of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which aims to strengthen risk-appropriate care in rural and urban areas by encouraging states to implement the CDC Levels of Care Assessment Tool (LOCATe). The document explains that LOCATe is a web-based, standardized assessment of birthing facilities that allows states to see the distribution of levels of care throughout the state, supporting perinatal regionalization to ensure pregnant people receive care in facilities with appropriate capabilities. It presents maternal mortality data showing significant racial disparities, with non-Hispanic Black women being 2.6 times more likely to experience maternal death compared to non-Hispanic White women in 2021, and highlights that more than 2.2 million women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts. The document includes examples of state maternal health innovations and evidence-based strategies, emphasizing that risk-appropriate care implementation should occur alongside efforts to address unconscious racial bias in healthcare to effectively reduce severe maternal morbidity and mortality.

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Keywords: Birthing centers, Data, Health facilities, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Perinatal care, Prevention, Regional factors, Rural health, Standards, Urban health