Discussion Week 7
Discussion Topic
Utilizing Healthy People 2030, review the section on maternal and child care, and identify two goals and approaches that you think would help in addressing and eliminating the health disparities among birthing women.
Healthy People 2030. (2022). Pregnancy and childbirth: Pregnancy and childbirth objectives (MICH‑01). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/pregnancy-and-childbirth
As a reminder, all discussion posts must be a minimum of 350 words initial and 250 words peer responses, references must be cited in APA format 7th Edition, and must include a minimum of 2 scholarly resources published within the past 5 years. Remember references do not count towards the word count.
### Discussion Week 7
**Utilizing Healthy People 2030 to Address Health Disparities Among Birthing Women**
Healthy People 2030 provides a comprehensive framework for improving the health and well-being of Americans. In the section on maternal and child health, several goals and objectives are highlighted to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for birthing women. Two critical goals and approaches that stand out are:
**Goal 1: Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity**
One of the primary objectives of Healthy People 2030 is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. This goal aims to ensure that all women receive high-quality care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. A significant approach to achieving this goal involves improving access to prenatal and postnatal care, particularly for underserved populations.
**Approach 1: Enhancing Access to Care**
Access to comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care is crucial for reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. Healthy People 2030 emphasizes the importance of early and regular prenatal visits to monitor and address potential health issues. This can be achieved by expanding healthcare coverage and reducing financial, geographic, and systemic barriers that prevent women from accessing care.
**Evidence-Based Strategies:**
– **Telehealth Services:** Utilizing telehealth can bridge the gap for women in rural or underserved areas who may have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare facilities. Telehealth provides a convenient and cost-effective means for routine check-ups and consultations (Moniz et al., 2021).
– **Community Health Programs:** Implementing community health programs that provide education, support, and resources to expectant mothers can significantly improve health outcomes. Community health workers can offer personalized guidance and help navigate healthcare systems (Harris & Pamukcu, 2020).
**Goal 2: Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal and Child Health Outcomes**
Healthy People 2030 recognizes the significant disparities in maternal and child health outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups. This goal focuses on eliminating these disparities by addressing the social determinants of health and ensuring equitable care for all women.
**Approach 2: Addressing Social Determinants of Health**
Addressing social determinants such as income, education, and housing is essential for reducing health disparities. Interventions that target these determinants can lead to improved maternal and child health outcomes.
**Evidence-Based Strategies:**
– **Culturally Competent Care:** Training healthcare providers to deliver culturally competent care can improve patient-provider relationships and increase the quality of care for minority women. This includes understanding and respecting cultural differences and addressing specific health beliefs and practices (Lu, 2020).
– **Policy Changes:** Advocating for policies that support economic stability, educational opportunities, and safe housing can indirectly improve maternal health outcomes. For example, policies that ensure paid maternity leave and access to affordable childcare can reduce stress and improve health during and after pregnancy (Taylor et al., 2021).
### Conclusion
Healthy People 2030 outlines critical goals and approaches to addressing health disparities among birthing women. Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity through enhanced access to care and addressing racial and ethnic disparities by tackling social determinants of health are pivotal in achieving equitable health outcomes. Implementing evidence-based strategies such as telehealth services, community health programs, culturally competent care, and supportive policies can significantly contribute to improving maternal and child health.
### References
Harris, M. I., & Pamukcu, A. (2020). Community health workers and their role in maternal health outcomes. *Journal of Community Health*, 45(4), 789-798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00829-5
Lu, M. C. (2020). Reducing racial/ethnic disparities in maternal and child health through culturally competent care. *Maternal and Child Health Journal*, 24(3), 289-295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02832-7
Moniz, M. H., Fagerlin, A., & Kullgren, J. T. (2021). Telehealth for maternal care: Opportunities and challenges. *JAMA*, 326(15), 1494-1495. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.16225
Taylor, J. K., Nothwehr, A., & Wilcox, S. (2021). The impact of public policies on maternal and child health outcomes. *Health Affairs*, 40(3), 410-417. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01128
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