Rural Project Examples Addressing Maternal health and prenatal care

UAMS IDHI High-Risk Pregnancy Program
Updated/reviewed December 2022

Need: Arkansas had high rates of low birthweight babies, and pregnant individuals in rural areas had difficulty accessing specialty obstetric care.
Intervention: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) created the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) High-Risk Pregnancy Program to increase access to care for pregnant individuals in an effort to improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies.
Results: The program has increased access to care and improved neonatal outcomes for rural Arkansas individuals through a variety of programs and has been recognized by various organizations as a model program.

Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation Program (DOVE)
Updated/reviewed March 2022

Need: To reduce violence against pregnant women and women with infants in rural Missouri.
Intervention: A tool for existing home visiting programs, DOVE is a brochure-based and safety planning intervention for women experiencing interpersonal violence.
Results: Women receiving the DOVE intervention saw a larger average decrease in number of violent incidents than women in the control group.

Perinatal Health Partners Southeast Georgia
Updated/reviewed February 2023

Need: In 12 rural southeast Georgia counties, high-risk pregnant individuals potentially face adverse birth outcomes, including maternal or infant mortality, low birthweight, very low birthweight, or other medical or developmental problems.
Intervention: An in-home nursing case management program for high-risk pregnant individuals in order to maximize pregnancy outcomes for mothers and their newborns.
Results: Mothers carry their babies longer and the babies are larger when born, leading to improved health outcomes.

Healthy Connections, Inc. Healthy Families Arkansas
Updated/reviewed December 2022

Need: High poverty rates and lack of access to healthcare make caring for unborn and newborn children difficult for young mothers in Arkansas's Polk and Garland Counties.
Intervention: An Arkansas-based program provides a national healthcare service to expectant and young mothers. Prenatal check-ups, education, transportation, well-baby checks and child immunizations are all provided by the Healthy Connections, Inc.
Results: The program's results demonstrate an increase in first trimester prenatal care rates and child immunization rates, as well as a dramatic decrease in confirmed cases of child abuse.

Contingency Management Smoking Cessation in Appalachia
Updated/reviewed June 2022

Need: To reduce smoking rates of pregnant women and adolescents in Appalachian regions of eastern Kentucky and Ohio.
Intervention: A web-based smoking cessation program that offered monetary incentives to reducing smoking.
Results: Participants significantly reduced smoking rates or quit altogether.

Kid One Transport
Updated/reviewed March 2023

Need: Transportation to medical appointments for children and expectant mothers living in rural Alabama.
Intervention: Kid One Transport provides rides to medical appointments for clients who otherwise have no other means of transportation.
Results: The program has transported 442,439 children and expectant mothers to and from medical appointments. Children have recovered from life-threatening illnesses and are experiencing a higher quality of life.

Mother's Milk Bank of South Carolina
Updated/reviewed January 2023

Need: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across the state of South Carolina were purchasing breast milk from out-of-state milk banks for preterm infants.
Intervention: The Mother's Milk Bank of South Carolina (MMBSC) opened 26 sites in South Carolina for breast milk to be donated, safely pasteurized, and delivered to NICUs across the state.
Results: Over 571,586 ounces of milk have been donated to MMBSC depot sites and over 402,523 ounces of milk have been delivered to South Carolina NICUs.

MIST: Mothers and Infants Sober Together
Updated/reviewed May 2019

Need: To address the needs of pregnant women who are using substances and infants born into drug-positive families.
Intervention: The Mothers and Infants Sober Together (MIST) program assisted mothers who used substances get treatment and provide a safe, drug-free home for themselves and their newborn.
Results: MIST has helped mothers find treatment and education and has helped children grow up in safe and healthy homes.

Taos First Steps Program
Updated/reviewed May 2019

Need: Support for families that promotes early childhood development and the parent-child relationship.
Intervention: Home visits which provide information, support, and access to early childhood resources and tools for building relationships.
Results: Easily replicable program, even for rural areas, that results in growth in knowledge and self-sufficiency for families as they provide for and understand their child's earliest years.

Rural Project Examples: Maternal health and prenatal care