Maternal and Child Health Journal最新文献

{"title":"Perceived Importance of Obstetric Quality Measures to Veterans Receiving Community-Based Obstetric Care.","authors":"Laël Nethania Ngangmeni, Kate F Wallace, Aimee Kroll-Desrosiers, Kristin M Mattocks","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04207-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04207-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric care persist in the United States. Veterans enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care receive obstetric care from community providers enrolled in the VA Community Care Network (CCN), yet little is known about Veterans' prenatal care decision-making. This study described how Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Veterans select prenatal care providers and perceive hospital-level obstetric quality measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Pregnant BIPOC Veterans (n = 27) were identified from a community-based doula pilot (N = 29) at two VA medical centers. During semi-structured telephone surveys conducted around 20 weeks gestation, Veterans described factors influencing provider selection and rated the importance of three Joint Commission obstetric quality measures-cesarean birth, unexpected complications in term newborns, and exclusive breast milk feeding-on a 3-point scale (\"not,\" \"somewhat,\" or \"very\" important). Open-ended responses contextualized these ratings, and participants were asked if they knew how to access hospital-level quality data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants (mean age = 33 years) were predominantly Black (85.2%) and multiparous (70.4%). Provider selection was most influenced by geographic proximity (48.2%) and VA insurance coverage (44.4%). Hospital-level unexpected complications in term newborns was rated \"very important\" by 66.7%, followed by cesarean birth (48.1%) and exclusive breast milk feeding (40.7%). Most Veterans valued measures perceived as related to infant well-being. However, 74.1% did not know how to access quality data.</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>BIPOC Veterans valued hospital-level obstetric quality measures related to infant outcomes and prioritized geographic accessibility and insurance coverage when selecting providers. Relevant, accessible quality information may allow Veterans to make better informed prenatal care decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"134-141"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145811645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Cross-Sectional Study on the Impact of Diaper Distribution by Diaper Banks on Child Health and Economic Impacts to Society.","authors":"Kelley E C Massengale, Lynn H Comer, Peter Gunther, Fred Carstensen, Joanne S Goldblum, Megan V Smith","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04217-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04217-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To document the impact of diaper banks' provision of free diapers on diaper dermatitis incidence and related treatment, as well as quantify the societal burden of diaper insecurity and the cost of addressing it.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The present study was a cross-sectional study of diaper bank recipient households. Data were collected from July 2021 to April 2022. Participating diaper banks (n = 65), located across the United States, were members of the National Diaper Bank Network. A sample of parents/caregivers (n = 5,598) receiving free diaper bank products for a child in their home completed anonymous surveys in English and Spanish.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children's ages ranged 0-47 months old, average 23.9 months. Most children had Medicaid healthcare coverage (80.7%; n = 5,154) or were uninsured (9.4%; n = 647). Fewer children experienced diaper dermatitis after receiving diaper bank products (p < .001) resulting in fewer healthcare visits and treatments (p < .001). Overall, participants reported children receiving diaper bank products experienced 41% fewer cases of diaper rash and 50% fewer cases of severe diaper rash. The annual cost of providing each child with a supplemental supply of diaper bank diapers ($211.56) is smaller than the annual societal cost of diaper insecurity ($659.10).</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>The distribution of diapers by community diaper banks reduces the burden of pediatric illness and associated healthcare costs. Pediatric healthcare professionals and public practitioners are in an optimal position to screen for diaper need and refer to local diaper banks and diaper resources. Addressing diaper insecurity has implications for reducing the burden of social isolation and caregiver mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"169-178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145834933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community-Led Solutions to Build Safer, More Equitable Places to Birth: The Baltimore Patients as Partners Project.","authors":"Lashelle Stewart, Maxine Reed-Vance, Teneele Bruce, Peter Schafer","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04195-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04195-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe a Patients as Partners maternity care quality improvement initiative. At the time the initiative was developed, the patient-provider relationship had emerged as a focal point in discussions of factors contributing to racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. The experiences of Black maternity patients have been the subject of many studies and have yielded consistent findings, particularly around patient-provider communication failures during childbirth.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Baltimore Healthy Start partnered with the Preeclampsia Foundation to collect and curate the stories of Baltimore women who suffered maternal health complications. During 2020-2021, a total of 34 women participated in focus groups facilitated by the Preeclampsia Foundation in order to share and draw lessons from their recent birthing experiences. All of these women were Black. Six women presented their experiences and recommendations to improve care at three hospital forums in Baltimore, MD held at Mercy Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Sinai Hospital. Together, these three hospitals account for the majority of births in Baltimore. Combined, over 100 medical, nursing, and administrative staff attended the Patients as Partners in Maternity Care Forums.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Women reported feeling not listened to regarding pain, their birth plan, or being excluded from discussions and decisions regarding their care. Many women reported a belief that women of color are perceived as uneducated, therefore their opinion is viewed as less relevant; some women reported they believed this perception and treatment is exacerbated by preconceptions held by providers in relation to the education and intelligence of women receiving Medicaid coverage. Women offered a number of recommendations to improve the quality of care.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"4-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12909622/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145805994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening Collaboration Between Community-Based Organizations, State Title V Agencies, and Funders by Uplifting Community-Rooted Evidence: A Qualitative Research Study.","authors":"Laura Powis, Ellisa S Alvarez, Lynda Krisowaty, Olivia Kuo, Noeli I Vasquez, Linda M Callejas, Rebecca Burns, Shakira Gore, Sheronda Whitner, Candice Charles, Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04196-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04196-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>What is considered 'evidence' in maternal and child health (MCH) has major implications for which organizations and initiatives receive funding. Despite growing recognition of the importance of community-rooted work, state and jurisdictional MCH agencies, (Title V) operate from an evidence framework that typically prioritizes empirical research and large-scale evaluations over community-rooted evidence (CRE).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study sought to examine how CRE informs decision-making within Title V agencies, understand capacity-building needs of community-based organizations (CBOs), and explore strengthening relationships between CBOs and Title V.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study interviewed Title V and CBO staff to explore current CRE perceptions and funder/CBO relationships. 16 CBO and 11 Title V staff participated in compensated interviews from February to July 2024. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CBO interviewees stressed the need to reimagine misaligned funder and CBO relationships to be rooted in trust, allow CBOs agency to define metrics of success for their work, recognize the credibility of CRE including qualitative data and storytelling, and introduce more flexibility into funding opportunities and reporting structures. Title V respondents expressed capacity building needs around how to operationalize CRE in their work and decision-making practices, as well as build CBO capacity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>Funders including Title V can support tailored, innovative, and community-driven solutions to MCH challenges through uplifting CRE in evidence frameworks, investing in trust-based relationships with CBOs, and supporting CBO capacity building. Recommendations for how Title V can operationalize CRE in their work are also provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"22-31"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12909452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145953600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Revisionist History is Not Helpful. A Response to Allen, et al., MCH and Abortion: Toward a Stronger Relationship.","authors":"Monica R McLemore, Joia A Crear-Perry, Karen A Scott, Sarah Roberts","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04241-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04241-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to Bernard Guyer's Letter to the Editor.","authors":"Alessandra N Bazzano, Milton Kotelchuck","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04225-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04225-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"14-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of a Prenatal Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on Diet and Household Food Security in a Low-Income, Urban Community.","authors":"Amy Saxe-Custack, Jenny LaChance, Gayle Shipp, Diana Haggerty","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04212-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04212-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>A prenatal fruit and vegetable prescription program (FVPP) was introduced in Flint, Michigan to increase access to fresh produce during pregnancy. This program provides $15 fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions to all prenatal patients during office visits, redeemable at a local farmers market and mobile market/food hub. The current study assessed changes in diet and food security throughout pregnancy among patients exposed to the prenatal FVPP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This non-controlled longitudinal trial included prenatal patients at two low-income urban clinics presenting before 16 weeks' gestation. Participants completed surveys to assess diet (one automated 24-hour dietary recall) and food security (US Household Food Security Module: Six Item Short Form - National Center for Health Statistics), with follow-up surveys at mid-pregnancy and postpartum.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 118 pregnant women (mean age 26.32 ± 5.04 years, range 18-39 years) enrolled in the current study. Most identified as Black/African American (54.2%, n = 64), received Medicaid (66.9%, n = 79), and participated in The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or WIC (62.4% at midpoint). Participants received an average of 8.81 ± 2.30 fruit and vegetable prescriptions, with two-thirds redeeming at least one (66.9%, n = 79). Household food security worsened from baseline to midpoint (p = 0.076) but improved from midpoint to postpartum (p = 0.013). Participants reported notable changes in dietary behaviors at critical points during their pregnancy. Primarily, significant improvements in mean daily consumption of fruits and vegetables (p = 0.027); total vegetables (p = 0.015); and vegetables excluding potatoes (p = 0.030) were observed from early pregnancy to midpoint. Alternatively, mean daily intake of fruits and vegetables (p = 0.007) and total vegetables (p = 0.029) decreased between midpoint in pregnancy and the early postpartum period.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study reveals the influence of a prenatal FVPP on diet and food security among prenatal patients living in one low-income, urban community. Results signal an urgent need for coordinated and comprehensive maternal supports that better address food and nutrition security during pregnancy and the early postpartum period.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"153-161"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12992367/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145783249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson on Abortion Access in Colorado: An Analysis of Incidence and Demographic Shifts Post-Roe.","authors":"Abigail Bryer, Thomas McAndrew, Fathima Wakeel, Christine Daley","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04216-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04216-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"162-168"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12992471/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145850692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Community-Centered Approach to Strengthening Perinatal Care Connections.","authors":"Michelle Adyniec, Erica Hartmann, Audrey Hendricks, Natasha Jogleker, Jhumna Sarkar, Natasha Dravid","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04189-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04189-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Racial disparities in maternal health outcomes are a public health crisis in the U.S. Adequate connection to pregnancy-related resources is a strategy for improving maternal outcomes (Trost et al., in Pregnancy-related deaths: Data from maternal mortality review committees in 36 States, 2017-2019. Centers for disease control and prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternal-mortality/erase-mm/data-mmrc.html , 2022), yet patients receive little support navigating complex systems. We tested the feasibility of a transition-of-care program that identifies individuals in early pregnancy who visit the emergency department (ED) and facilitates connections to needed healthcare and supportive resources.</p><p><strong>Description: </strong>This pilot used a regional Health Information Exchange (HIE) to identify people from EDs across four counties in South Jersey with evidence of a current or recent pregnancy and limited connection to care. Eligible patients were assigned to a partner site who contacted them to offer scheduling support for pregnancy-related care and connection to supportive resources. The pilot initially focused on prenatal care but expanded to include other supports based on patient needs.</p><p><strong>Assessment: </strong>Of the 2073 eligible patients, 896 were contacted, and 379 accepted one or more types of support. Support was accepted across racial, ethnic, age, and insurance groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This pilot illustrated that a perinatal transition of care program from the ED to appropriate pregnancy-related services and resources is feasible. The ED provides a unique opportunity to identify and engage people early in pregnancy who might face barriers to accessing timely care. The model reduced reliance on self-navigation and addressed common access challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"15-21"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12909323/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145641302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Response to Bazzano et al., Oral History of Life Course.","authors":"Bernard Guyer","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04224-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04224-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"11-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}