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Impact of Pre-Conception Health Care: Evaluation of a Social Determinants Focused Intervention

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the social determinants component of a multiple determinants model of pre- and inter-conception care. Health department vital statistics and infectious disease data on birth and factors influencing birth outcomes were analyzed for participants in a program designed to mitigate the effects of social class and stress in contrast to a matched comparison group and other relevant populations. The program showed promising results related to reducing infant mortality and reducing other high-risk factors for poor birth outcomes, including low birth weight and sexually transmitted disease. Social determinant interventions, designed to mitigate the impact of social class and stress, should be considered with efforts to reduce infant mortality, particularly the disparities associated with infant mortality. Additional research should be conducted to refine replicable social determinant focused interventions and confirm and generalize these results.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Sub-Contract Agreement 2005-019). The authors wish to acknowledge Jeff Will, PhD; Tim Cheney, MS; Irma Hall, MA, for participation and technical assistance, and the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition and the Magnolia staff for their participation and support.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Health, Policy and Evaluation Research, Duval County Health Department, 900 University Blvd North, Suite 604, Jacksonville, FL, 32211, USA

    William C. Livingood, Kimberly Pierce, Tao Hou & Thomas Bryant III

  2. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    William C. Livingood

  3. Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition Inc., 644 Cesery Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32211, USA

    Carol Brady

  4. Division of Blood Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, E-64, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Hani Atrash

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  1. William C. Livingood
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Livingood, W.C., Brady, C., Pierce, K. et al. Impact of Pre-Conception Health Care: Evaluation of a Social Determinants Focused Intervention. Matern Child Health J 14, 382–391 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0471-4

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