Maternal, Infant and Child Health
As described by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, this topic area addresses a "wide range of conditions, health behaviors, and health systems indicators that affect the health, wellness, and quality of life of women, children and families. The focus of this topic can span from preconception social and environmental factors to healthy birth outcomes and early identification and treatment of developmental delays and disabilities among infants and toddlers. Plan activities in this section align existing work in the Tri-County as well as with state level plans regarding birth outcomes.
Goals:
1. Improve the reproductive health of families in the Tri-County area.
2. Safeguard maternal health to lower maternal mortality and morbidity across the Tri-County area and in the state of South Carolina.
3. Increase the number of children ages 9 - 35 months who received a developmental screening using a standardized, parent-completed screening tool.
Sources: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Maternal, Infant, and Child Health, Overview. Retrieved from: healthypeople.gov
Action Plan
1. Promote community awareness on reproductive health and family planning through work with identified Choose Well partners and the promotion of the Choose Well “No Drama” campaign.
2. Strategic partnerships with community organizations such as Fetter Health Care Network and PASOs, to disseminate information and culturally tailored education on contraceptive care in the Tri-County area.
3. Identify gaps in reproductive health services in vulnerable communities, and increase awareness of options for contraceptive care by working with partner community agencies who address these needs.
4. Add questions on unintended pregnancies to CHNA for 2019.
Action Plan
1. Promote the CDC/ASTHO Post-Partum LARC learning community.
2. Establish a baseline for provider knowledge on best practices for contraception. Areas to address may include: current provider skills and knowledge, opportunities for training, identification of myths and/or barriers to care.
Action Plan
1. Promote the use of the South Carolina Postpartum LARC Toolkit by providers in the Tri-County area.
2. Promote patient access to LARCs through existing partnerships in the Choose Well initiative.
3. Promote increased provider awareness of Medicaid billing standards for LARC insertion.
Action Plan
1. Disseminate maternal mortality and morbidity data to all hospital CEOs, Quality points of contact, and perinatal managers.
2. Elevate the status of maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes by appointing a regional DHEC perinatal manager for provider/hospital education in the Tri-County, as throughout the state.
Story Behind the Curve
1. Endorse research-based, state and national partnerships for data-driven public and private initiatives already underway in-state (AIM, Birth Outcomes Collaborative, and others) – and in sync with those nationwide – focused on safeguarding maternal, prenatal, obstetric, and post-natal health.
Action Plan
1. Support the Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee to identify problems contributing to deaths and to support interventions to lower the incidence, both clinical and non-clinical, as at least 60% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are considered preventable.
Why Is This Important?
Action Plan
1. Enhance public awareness of maternal mortality and morbidity in the tri-county African American community.
2. Identify funding organizations with best practices for maternal health that could assist the tri county area with the racial disparity gap.
Action Plan
1. Work and collaborate with statewide organizations that help coordinate or facilitate prenatal care visits to the tri county area regardless of means to pay for services, including the expansion of maternity benefits for all mothers on Medicaid to include an immediate postpartum visit, with the goal of reducing the high cost and health burden associated with missed opportunities for early treatment for conditions.
New research is supporting that this immediate postpartum "fourth trimester" is key to timely treatment.
Action Plan
1. Increase awareness of child health providers on the importance of conducting systematic surveillance and screening of young children and referrals/connection to services.
2. Promote family engagement and developmental screening through clinic appointed health champions and community partnerships.
3. Embed developmental monitoring tools and resources in child health provider settings using the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program materials that promote screening.
Action Plan
1. Promote awareness of child care providers on importance of developmental screening through community partnerships with child care training organizations.
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