Developing and Implementing Data-Driven Actionable Solutions to Advance Maternal Health Equity
March of Dimes' latest Report Card revealed persistent racial disparities across maternal and infant health measures, most significantly among Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native families. In the U.S., an average of two women and birthing people die every day from pregnancy-related causes and two babies die every hour - a crisis that is fueled by many factors, including structural racism, poor quality of care, and socio-economic status.
The goal of the March of Dimes Research Center for Advancing Maternal Health Equity at the University of Pennsylvania is to develop and implement data-driven actionable solutions to advance maternal health equity. This overarching goal includes:
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Creating and disseminating basic, translational, clinical, and policy research on maternal and pregnant peoples’ equitable outcomes
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Leveraging technology to increase access to care and promote early intervention
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Building novel partnerships with community members, health systems, providers, and payers
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Utilizing interdisciplinary team science, partnerships, and multi-institutional and interdisciplinary collaborations
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Informing policy to improve inequities across Philadelphia and beyond
Learn more about the March of Dimes Research Center for Advancing Maternal Health Equity at Penn
Research
PeliCaN: Post-partum Care in the NICU (PeliCaN) is a pilot study led by Heather Burris, MD, MPH, to explore feasibility of a novel model of doula-coordinated, midwife-delivered postpartum care in the neonatal intensive care unit.
VIBE study: This research explores the postpartum experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and how stress affects postpartum health, with a focus on blood pressure trajectories. The study population was women of color at four hospitals in New York and Philadelphia.
Doula Care Delivery: This project is developing and evaluating a way to make doulas an integral member of the care team for birthing people. Penn is partnering with Alexia Doumbouya, director and founder of CocoLife.Black Foundation, and will begin stakeholder interviews of patients, physicians, nurses, and community doulas. Find out more about this project here
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. They support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 85-year legacy, they support every pregnant person and every family. To learn more about March of Dimes, please visit marchofdimes.org.
If you have any questions, additional information can be obtained by contacting:
Micki Burdick, PhD
Project Manager, OBGYN
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Micki.burdick@pennmedicine.upenn.edu