Lia Meyer
Research Mentor(s): Alex Peahl
Mentor Department: Dept Ob/Gyn, IHPI
Authors:
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 31
Abstract
The United States faces a maternal morbidity and mortality crisis, with significant inequities for birthing people marginalized by race/racism, poverty, and geography. Alarmingly, over 80% of adverse pregnancy outcomes are preventable, many of which can be addressed through accessible and effective prenatal care. Prenatal care provides a critical opportunity to improve maternal health and pregnancy outcomes, yet there is limited understanding of how social needs are assessed and addressed during this period. This study seeks to address these gaps by creating a comprehensive report on prenatal social needs practices. A voluntary sample of prenatal care clinics across Michigan participated, recruited through outreach calls. Data collection was conducted via Zoom interviews or structured surveys, gathering information on infrastructure, provider demographics, services, support for special populations, and strategies for addressing social drivers of health. Descriptive statistics summarized key aspects of prenatal care, while qualitative content analysis was used for implementation considerations. Preliminary findings indicate notable variation in prenatal social needs screening and resource allocation across clinics. Ultimately, completion of the work will result in understanding prenatal care delivery in Michigan, identifying gaps in care, and informing quality improvement (QI) initiatives to enhance maternal outcomes and reduce disparities. In the long term, this work aims to establish a standardized approach to addressing social needs in prenatal care. By ensuring that mothers feel supported throughout their pregnancies, this initiative aspires to improve infant outcomes and advance equity in maternal healthcare.
