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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Maternal health and prenatal care

Cavity Free at Three: CDC Evaluation 2013-2018
Presents the key findings of a 5-year evaluation of the Cavity Free at Three (CF3) program that trains medical and dental professionals to provide preventive oral health services for young children and pregnant women. The goal is to decrease dental disease and reduce disparities associated with oral health among vulnerable populations in rural and urban Colorado.
Date: 2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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Case Study: High-Tech OB Simulation Training Educates OB Teams, Improves Quality of Rural Health Care
Reports on a pilot obstetrics simulation training program intended to help rural family physicians and obstetric care teams recognize and react to complications related to pregnancy, initially focusing on hemorrhaging. Identifies planned quality improvement measures resulting from the training and includes program contact information. Program targeted 12 rural hospitals in Nebraska.
Date: 2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bryan Health, Heartland Health Alliance
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Preterm Birth - New Mexico PRAMS
Reports on preterm births in New Mexico using data from the state's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Compares preterm birth rates by rural/urban location, race/ethnicity, age group, and more.
Date: 2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Health Equity Report 2017
Reports on trends in health equity and health disparities in the U.S. Provides statistics and information on multiple program areas, including: maternal and child health, primary care, access, quality, HIV/AIDS, mental and behavioral health, chronic disease, health promotion, health workforce, rural versus urban, and geographic disparities. Addresses disparity patterns for 3 priority areas: mental health, opioid use, and childhood obesity.
Author(s): Gopal K. Singh, Andrew "Drew" De Los Reyes, Michelle Allender, et al.
Date: 2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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First Trimester Prenatal Care Initiation Among Hispanic Women Along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Reports on a study to determine what factors, including barriers, influence pregnant and parenting Hispanic women from counties within the U.S.-Mexico border region to seek first trimester prenatal care – care associated with improved birth outcomes.
Author(s): Katherine Selchau, Maricela Babuca, Kara Bower, et al.
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal, 21(Suppl 1), 11–18
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
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Rural Health Research Recap: Effects of Rural Hospital Closures
Summarizes key findings from the Rural Health Research Centers' research published between 2015 and 2017 on the effects of rural hospital closures. Examines rural hospital closures and conversions, payment models, the loss of obstetric services, and more. Provides links to each of the referenced source documents.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Impact of a Mobile Health Application on User Engagement and Pregnancy Outcomes among Wyoming Medicaid Members
Examines the effects of a mobile health application, Due Date Plus, on user engagement and birth outcomes among pregnant Medicaid members compared to pregnant Medicaid members not using the application in Wyoming. Compares data on four outcomes: 6-month or more prenatal visit, C-section, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care unity (NICU) admission to evaluate the association between Due Date Plus with pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Author(s): James Bush, Dilek E. Barlow, Jennie Echols, Jasmine Wilkerson, Katherine Bellevin
Citation: Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 23(11), 891-898
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
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NIEHS/EPA Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers Impact Report
Highlights progress made toward reducing the impact of environmentally induced diseases on children. Includes examples of how exposure to pollutants in rural areas could make children's asthma worse or increase the chances of autism spectrum disorder in children of mothers exposed to pesticides during pregnancy.
Date: 10/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Access To Obstetric Services In Rural Counties Still Declining, With 9 Percent Losing Services, 2004-14
Results of a study identifying gaps in the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural America, and providing evidence of disparities in local access to obstetric services in vulnerable rural communities. Includes statistics on percentages of rural counties by status of hospital obstetric services from 2004–14, with breakdowns by micropolitan or noncore location, and a county-level map with shadings indicating full closure, continuous services, or no services.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Carrie E. Henning-Smith, Michelle M. Casey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Affairs, 36(9), 1663-1671
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Arizona American Indian Health Status Summary Report for Data Year 2015
Provides tables and graphs highlighting healthcare disparities for American Indians in Arizona. Addresses chronic disease incidence, mortality rates and causes of death, maternal and infant health, and behavioral risk factors such as drug and alcohol use.
Date: 06/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Health Services
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