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All Children Prenatal to Age 8 are Healthy and 2 more... less...

Community Snapshot

Healthy Birth Outcomes

Percentage of Wethersfield's Non-Hispanic White Mothers Receiving Non-Adequate Prenatal Care

Current Value

41.7%

2015

Definition

Line Bar Comparison

Why Is This Important?

Adequate prenatal care is important to the health of both mothers and their babies. It has a positive effect on birthweight, full-term delivery, and the overall health of babies at birth and beyond. “Regular prenatal care helps you and your health provider monitor how your pregnancy is going. It also helps spot any potential health problems before they become serious. Some pregnant women may experience complications like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. But with regular prenatal care, you’ll be better able to manage any health issues that may come up.” (March of Dimes).

Data over time reflects that the majority of women giving birth in Wethersfield are Non-Hispanic White Mothers. For instance, more than 77% of children born in Wethersfield in 2011 were born to Non-Hispanic White Woman (199 of the 258 children born). By 2013, that number had reached 79% (198 of 250 births), and has been staying constant at 79% through 2014 and 2015. As we look at inadequate prenatal care, the majority of woman who do not receive adequate prenatal care are also Non-Hispanic White Women. In 2011, we see 70% of the mothers who did not receive adequate prenatal care were part of this group (58 of the 83 woman). By 2013 that number was 79% (62 of 78 women) and by 2015 the number jumped to 85% (75 of 88 women).

The fact that Non-Hispanic Mothers comprise the largest group of women receiving Non-Adequate Prenatal Care in Wethersfield and the consistent upward trend in the number of women receiving inadequate care has made it a specific focus of WECC's Community Plan.

Story Behind the Curve

Historically, non-adequate prenatal care has not been an area of concern in Wethersfield.  Neither the Central Connecticut Health District nor the Town of Wethersfield Department of Social and Youth Services offer programs focused on prenatal care and healthy birth outcomes.  Research for this Plan has highlighted the need for further research and action.

 

In order to have received Adequate Prenatal Care as defined by the Department of Public Health, one must start prenatal care in the first trimester and have nine prenatal care visits for a 36 week pregnancy (10 visits for a 37 week pregnancy, 11 visits for a 38 week pregnancy). This measure is not and indicator of the quality of the care received.

Wethersfield has higher rates of women receiving non-adequate prenatal care compared to the State and the Central Connecticut Health District (CCHD), the regional health district serving Wethersfield, Berlin, Newington, and Rocky Hill. The CCHD has identified the top five reason women in our region do not receive adequate prenatal care:

1.Lack of Insurance

2.Lack of Knowledge

3.Lack of Support

4.Mental Health/Substance Abuse

5.Lack of Transportation

When looking specifically at Wethersfield’s non-Hispanic white community, a number of these factors may come into play. Data collected by Wethersfield Public Schools shows a large influx of families into our community from Eastern Europe, especially in the Hanmer and Charles Wright schools district over the last decade.  Language barriers may be an impediment to understanding the importance of prenatal care and how to access it. We have also seen a rise in the number of economically disadvantaged families in Wethersfield over the last decade. Difficulties with both insurance coverage and transportation can be tied to this factor. Further investigation into the role of mental health issues and substance abuse is required.  Wethersfield is also fact-finding about the prenatal practices in some of the ethnic communities within the town.  In some communities it appears that prenatal care may be provided by someone other than a local doctor, with expectant moms waiting until later in their pregnancies to be seen by a traditional physician. 

 

What Works

Suggested interventions incorporated into strategies have been developed in accordance with research and best practices in the field. They include:

  • Interviews with healthcare providers to collect data on why woman may not be getting adequate prenatal care
  • Focus Groups with expectant mothers
  • Prenatal Care Surveys conducted by the CCHD
  • Resource Guide/Website that includes healthcare information for woman and children in Wethersfield
  • Increased enrollment in insurance plans
  • Study of role of transportation in increasing access to prenatal care

 

Strategy

Strategy 1:Develop a better understanding of why some of Wethersfield’s White non-Hispanic women are not receiving adequate prenatal care

Actions:

  • Conduct interviews with additional healthcare providers serving Wethersfield women. Based on these results, investigate available data to further refine which factors contribute to non-adequate prenatal care.
  • Conduct focus groups with expectant and/or new mothers to understand behaviors and barriers that may affect prenatal care.
  • Incorporate prenatal care questions into the next BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) community assessment conducted by the CCHD.
  • Work with Nurturing Families and talk to representatives from different ethnic communities in town to understand why some communities do not use traditional doctors for prenatal care.

Strategy 2: Promote awareness and use of existing OB/GYN services in Wethersfield.

Actions:

  • Partner with Wethersfield’s OB/GYN providers on a facilitated referral program.
  • Create one centrally located place for families to obtain information about Wethersfield services, including healthcare for expectant women and their children.
  • Increase awareness and use of healthcare coverage options for pregnant women in Wethersfield by collaborating with the CT Department of Social Services (DSS) to promote and increase enrollment in the HUSKY insurance program.
  • Determine whether the lack of transportation is a barrier to women receiving adequate prenatal care.

Assigned To

WECC's Health Committee

The strategic focus of the Health Committee includes:

  • Implementing the Health strategies outlined in Wethersfield's Community Plan for Young Children and Families.
  • Focus on addressing non-adequate prenatal care, and engaging broader community in efforts to address lifestyle for our youngest children that result in healthy eating and adequate physical activity.
  • Taking a lead in data collection and reporting for WECC.

For more information, contact wethersfieldchildhood@gmail.com

Partners

  • State of Connecticut
  • CT Department of Social Services (DSS
  • Central Connecticut Health District (CCHD)
  • Graustein Memorial Fund
  • Town of Wethersfield
  • Town of Wethersfield Department of Youth and Social Services
  • Wethersfield's Medical Community

Brainstorms

Worth Watching

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