Goals 2030 Maternity and Infantcs

Objective of Maternal Health Programs

  • Prevention of complications and deaths:

    • Aim to prevent pregnancy complications and maternal deaths.

    • Improve women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy.

Maternal Mortality Rates in the U.S.

  • Statistics:

    • Women in the U.S. are more likely to die from childbirth compared to those in other developed countries.

    • U.S. ranks approximately 40th globally.

    • Norway reported as having the best maternal and infant outcomes.

  • Spending on health care:

    • The U.S. spends the highest amount on healthcare and prenatal care, yet outcomes remain poor.

Health Education for Expecting Mothers

  • Importance of maternal education:

    • Mothers often make crucial healthcare decisions for their families.

    • The expectation that mothers will be informed about health choices.

  • Facility amenities:

    • Hospitals and maternity units are renovated to provide a modern environment.

    • Enhancements aim to encourage women to return to facilities for ongoing healthcare.

Mental Health in Postpartum Care

  • Postpartum screening goals:

    • Aim to increase screenings for postpartum depression among new mothers.

    • Facilities engage in standardized questioning to assess mental health (including suicidal ideations).

    • Appropriate referrals made if the mother scores high on evaluations (social worker or psychiatrist consultation).

Goals for Maternal and Infant Health

  • Reduction of fetal and neonatal deaths:

    • Target to reduce fetal deaths at 20 weeks gestation and reduce preterm births.

  • Early prenatal care:

    • Aim to increase early and adequate prenatal care visits for pregnant women.

  • Historical context:

    • Many maternal health goals have persisted unchanged for thirty years.

    • Structural assessments and goal improvements occur every ten years guided by the Surgeon General.

Access to Prenatal Care

  • Prenatal care availability:

    • Most women in the U.S. can access prenatal care at no cost regardless of legal status, influenced by the Towner Shepherd Act of 1921.

  • Awareness and barriers:

    • Many women, especially immigrants, may not know about free prenatal services.

    • Misconceptions and fear of legal repercussions prevent some from seeking care.

Addressing Health Risks in Pregnant Women

  • Health before pregnancy:

    • Emphasis on maintaining healthy weight pre-pregnancy to prevent risks like postpartum hemorrhage.

    • Acknowledgment of the risk of severe hemorrhage leading to death in extreme cases.

  • Substance use:

    • Goals include increasing abstinence from alcohol and illicit drugs among pregnant women and reducing opioid use.

Family Planning Services

  • Access to birth control:

    • Birth control is free and accessible, addressing a need to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

  • Prevention and testing:

    • Goals to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission and address rising rates of congenital syphilis.

  • SUNRISE Model for STI screening:

    • Initial prenatal visit includes testing for STIs, acknowledging that conditions may develop later in pregnancy.

    • Public health challenges demonstrated by cases of undiagnosed STIs affecting infants negatively.

Tobacco and Vaccine Recommendations

  • Smoking cessation efforts:

    • Emphasis on increasing abstinence and successful quit attempts for pregnant women.

  • Vaccinations:

    • Encouragement for Tdap vaccinations during pregnancy to combat rising cases of pertussis (whooping cough).

    • Highlighting the severe health risks pertussis poses to newborns (e.g., broken ribs from strong coughing leading to serious health issues).

Maternal Health Outcomes

  • General outcomes:

    • A highlighted goal to reduce maternal deaths, though progress seems stagnant according to ongoing assessments.

    • Issues surrounding neural tube defects related to inadequate folic acid during early pregnancy.

Cesarean Birth Considerations

  • Trends in delivery methods:

    • Reduction of cesarean births among low-risk women desired, focusing on informed vaginal deliveries for first-time mothers.

  • Risks associated with cesarean sections:

    • Potential respiratory issues and other complications for babies born via C-section.

Infant Health and Safety

  • Health improvement goals:

    • Focus on overall infant health, safety, vaccinations, and monitoring developmental milestones.

  • Parental responsibility:

    • Education to ensure mothers understand their primary role in their child's health, regardless of familial support.

Addressing Infant Mortality Rates

  • Need for accountability:

    • Infant mortality in the U.S. is unacceptably higher compared to other high-income countries, despite abundance of resources.

  • Societal challenges:

    • Economic stresses make it difficult for parents to take necessary leave to care for infants post-birth.

Breastfeeding Initiatives

  • Breastfeeding targets:

    • Aim to improve the percentage of infants breastfed at least for their first year, regardless of the frequency.

Developmental Screening for Infants

  • Screening requirements:

    • Early hearing screenings mandated by state law; evaluation by three months if the infant fails their initial screening.

  • Importance of early interventions for hearing loss:

    • Ensures children begin to develop language skills in tandem with their peers.

HIV and Congenital Syphilis Prevention

  • Importance of monitoring for STIs:

    • Continued focus on reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission and addressing congenital syphilis in newborns.

Safe Sleep Practices

  • Understanding infant sleep safety:

    • Advocating that infants sleep in a separate sleeping environment to prevent accidents.

  • Resources provided:

    • Some states provide safe sleep boxes filled with essential supplies for new parents.

Vaccination Recommendations for Children

  • Vaccination coverage goals:

    • Focus on maintaining vaccination coverage levels for MMR and DTaP vaccines by age two.

  • Current public health issues:

    • Rising measles cases attributed to decreased vaccination rates, linked to the misinformation campaigns against vaccinations.