Maternal health is a growing concern in many countries, with a greater impact on areas of rurality, economic disadvantaged populations, as well as populations that are underserved (persons of color, Native Americans, Hispanics).
The central question of this project is: Can we model the factors that drive maternal and infant health, at spatial and temporal scales which can be useful for policymakers and community leaders to effect change? Our focus is the State of Idaho and adjacent communities.
What is maternal health?
Maternal health refers to the overall well-being of women and people during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as their ability to access necessary healthcare services and support to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth experience (Joseph et al, 2021). Several components are well established as critical for maternal health success, including:
- preconceptual and prenatal healthcare;
- nutrition;
- health education and psychosocial services;
- safe and supportive birth environments;
- family and social support;
- extended postpartum care; as well as
- advocacy and policy to support maternal health for all (Collier, Molina, 2019).
Our approach
Measuring maternal health, and its relations to infant health, is challenging. Using limited measurement structures, a region may appear to have a low level of maternal deaths, yet the problem is often more complicated. Previous research has shown that many factors, including:
- direct health measures (diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease);
- healthcare access (proximity to healthcare, access to transportation, Medicare availability); and
- social determinants of health (education, poverty)
can combine to increase the risk of negative maternal health outcomes.
Thank you for your input!