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Division of Reproductive Health: Activities—Maternal and Infant Health
Research |
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Approximately six million women become pregnant in the
United States each year. CDC is committed to identifying ways to improve
women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy, and identifying
strategies to improve the health and well-being of newborns and infants. We
accomplish this through research and programs that promote healthy
lifestyles and improve early detection and prevention among women at risk.
To improve healthy outcomes of women and infants, CDC's
Division of Reproductive Health conducts research and surveillance in
partnership with multiple federal and non-federal organizations and
disseminates key findings. CDC collaborates with partners in state health
departments, universities, professional societies, and health maintenance
organizations to advance understanding of risk factors, causes, and
prevention strategies for the leading causes of maternal and infant death
and disability, including
preterm birth, sudden unexplained
infant death, and acute and chronic
complications during
pregnancy.
Because major and persistent racial and ethnic disparities
exist in pregnancy-related death and illness, preterm birth, and fetal and
infant mortality, an essential component of our research focuses on
improving understanding of the causes of these conditions and the reasons
they affect some subgroups of women disproportionately. Then we can identify
new opportunities for prevention and translate new findings into effective
public health programs.
Program Highlights
Preterm birth
- Conducted and published
a study that identified preterm birth as the most frequent cause of
infant death in the United States, accounting for approximately one
third of all infant deaths.
- In collaboration with
outside investigators and state health departments, conduct ongoing
research to better understand the social, behavioral, community,
genetic, and biologic factors associated with preterm birth and
racial disparities, in an effort to identify new opportunities for
prevention.
- Evaluating how 17-alpha
hydroxyprogesterone caproate, a progesterone compound for prevention
of recurrent preterm birth, is used during routine medical care.
Pregnancy-related
complications
- Evaluating strategies to
improve detection, referral, and care of women with a history of
gestational diabetes to reduce their high risk for development of
type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Conducting a
collaborative study on adverse pregnancy outcomes— placental
abruption, preterm delivery, and hypertensive disorders of
pregnancy—associated with use of chew tobacco among Alaska Native
women.
- In partnership with
state health departments and managed care organizations, improving
surveillance and conducting research of pregnancy-related
complications, and helping to translate findings into effective
prevention programs.
Infant health
- Revised Guidelines for
Death Scene Investigation of Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death in
partnership with a national network of participants.
- Conducted 5 regional
train-the-trainer courses across the U.S. to prepare state and local
officials in accurate and consistent investigation and reporting of
sudden, unexplained infant deaths.
Technical
assistance to partners
- Strengthening and
supporting community programs to reduce racial disparities in
preterm birth in partnership with the Healthy African American
Families Project in Los Angeles, California.
- Strengthening
epidemiologic capacity and public health research in maternal-child
health among Native American/Alaska Native populations in
partnership with the Indian Health Service and tribal health
councils.
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Program Impact
- Through nationwide training of infant death scene investigators,
improved reporting of the causes of infant death and increased accuracy
of the data used for research to reduce SIDS and other causes of sudden,
unexplained infant death.
- An expanded research agenda for addressing preterm birth that is
built on scientific knowledge developed over previous decades and in
conjunction with federal and non-federal partners.
- Accurate information on the health risks of smokeless tobacco use in
pregnancy among Alaska Native women to assist local agencies to generate
evidence-based health education messages.
- Improved assessment of antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum
complications and methods for monitoring the pregnancy-related and
long-term health of women.
- Heightened awareness of the importance of intensive maternal death
reviews at the state level with the aim of reducing the persistent
disparity in pregnancy-related deaths between black and white women.
Back to Activities
Page last reviewed: 11/25/08
Page last modified: 7/29/08
Content source:
Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion |
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