Maternal Health and Infant Mortality Prevention

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of the public health approach to preventing infant mortality?

Educating pregnant women in general and high-risk women about healthy pregnancies (correct)

Providing medical intervention to high-risk women

Developing policies to reduce socioeconomic disadvantages

Conducting research on the causes of infant mortality

Why is prenatal care considered a public health–oriented kind of care?

It is not covered by most insurance plans

It provides women with information on how to have a healthy pregnancy and bear a healthy child (correct)

It primarily focuses on individual medical treatment

It is only available to low-income women

What is a benefit of beginning prenatal care as early as possible?

It increases the risk of bacterial infections of the genital tract

It is only necessary for high-risk women

It reduces the risk of giving birth prematurely

It greatly enhances a woman’s prospects of bearing a healthy infant (correct)

Why is prenatal care especially important for women with low socioeconomic status (SES)?

Visits to a healthcare provider may be their only source of education, services, and social support Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of pregnant women in the United States received prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy in 2016?

77% Signup and view all the answers

What is a reason why healthcare providers screen pregnant women for common infections?

To reduce the risk of giving birth prematurely Signup and view all the answers

What is a way that most states have tried to remove financial barriers to prenatal care?

By providing insurance or other sources of payment and establishing prenatal clinics Signup and view all the answers

Why is prenatal care important for high-risk women?

Their infants are most likely to suffer from their socioeconomic disadvantages Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of pregnancy during the teen years on the young mother's life?

Interference with education and career prospects Signup and view all the answers

What is a difference in prenatal care between teenage mothers and older women?

Teenage mothers are less likely to seek prenatal care Signup and view all the answers

What is a risk factor for infants of teenage mothers?

Greatly increased risk of low birth weight Signup and view all the answers

What is a long-term consequence for children of teenage mothers?

Lower school achievement Signup and view all the answers

Why does adolescent pregnancy increase health risks to the child?

Due to the socioeconomic consequences of adolescent pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

What is a behavior that teenage mothers are more likely to engage in during pregnancy?

Smoke Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Public Health Approach to Preventing Infant Mortality

Focuses on two groups: pregnant women in general and high-risk women (poor, young, minority, unmarried) who face socioeconomic disadvantages
High-risk women's infants are more likely to suffer from their socioeconomic disadvantages

Importance of Prenatal Care

Provides women with information on having a healthy pregnancy and child
Most public health-oriented kind of care provided by the medical profession
Offers an opportunity for healthcare providers to diagnose problems that need medical intervention

Benefits of Early Prenatal Care

diagnosing and treating bacterial infections of the genital tract, which increase the risk of premature birth
Screening for common infections and treating if infected (recommended by the CDC)
Enhances a woman's prospects of bearing a healthy infant, especially when started early (preferably before conception)

Prenatal Care for Low SES Women

Especially important for women with the lowest socioeconomic status (SES)
Visits to a healthcare provider may be their only source of education, services, and social support
Financial barriers are being addressed by providing insurance, payment sources, and establishing prenatal clinics at health departments, hospital outpatient departments, and community health centers

Prenatal Care Statistics in the US

In 2016, 77% of pregnant women in the United States received prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy

Adolescent Pregnancy: Health Risks and Consequences

Preventing adolescent pregnancy is a high public health priority due to the health risks to both the teenager and the infant.
Teenage pregnancy has harmful consequences, including interference with education and career prospects, economic hardship, and interference with the formation of a strong family unit.

Health Risks to the Infant

Infants of teenage mothers are at greatly increased risk of low birth weight, serious and long-term disability, and dying during the first year of life.
Teenage mothers are less likely to seek prenatal care than older women, and are more likely to have no care at all.

Risk Factors

Teenage mothers are more likely to smoke during pregnancy, which increases health risks to the infant.
Teenage mothers are less likely to gain adequate weight during pregnancy, which can lead to low birth weight and other complications.

Long-term Consequences for the Child

Children born to teenage mothers are more likely to have lower school achievement and drop out of high school.
They are more likely to be incarcerated as young adults and face unemployment.
They are also more likely to become parents as teenagers themselves, perpetuating a cycle of adolescent pregnancy.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the public health approach to preventing infant mortality, specifically targeting pregnant women and high-risk groups. It covers the importance of prenatal care in ensuring a healthy pregnancy and child.