What is the state of maternal and child health in the state of Arizona? Well, it certainly could be better.
Arizona ranks in the 40s (out of 50 states) in many areas related to the health of Moms and their babies.
Too many Moms and babies are dying preventable deaths after childbirth. Too many babies are born prematurely, with low birth weight or with birth defects. Not surprisingly, access to first trimester prenatal care has decreased, while beginning prenatal care late or not having prenatal care has increased.
Although the Arizona Department of Health Services recently received a CDC grant to study maternal mortality, there is more work to be done to improve the lives of Moms and babies.
Arizona should be doing more to prevent premature and low brithweight babies, increase access to prenatal and post-partum care for women, and increase post secondary educational opportunities (particularly for young girls).
I will talk about the State of Maternal and Child Health in Arizona and lead a discussion about challenges and solutions at the Salt of the Earth Labor College on Saturday, September 21, 2019, beginning at 2 p.m. (Facebook event here. Blog for Arizona event here.) The College is located at 1902 E. Irene Vista, Tucson.
Democrats in the Arizona Legislature are working on bills to address the health and wellbeing of families. Please bring your personal stories about pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum care in Arizona and your ideas for improving care or outcomes. The plan is to have a discussion after the talk.
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Maternal & Child Health: a Public Health Model for Social Justice (video) (The September 21 talk is an updated version of this talk.)
In #AZ, Maternal & Child Health Is in Crisis (video)
Thanks Pam. As an OB/Gyn provider for 30 years entirely in rural communities I know how to set an agenda and work hard to combat this problem. I look forward to becoming an elected legislator and work for the health of all women in Arizona. Tell me how I can help. I am founding board member of PAs in OB/Gyn and was on the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council for the American Academy of Physician Assistant. I am now a member of the Pinal County Child Fatality Review board . Let’s get to work!