The health of West Virginia’s babies has
a tremendous impact on the state’s economy, workforce development and family
well-being. In recognition of this, a partnership of more than 30 health care
providers, educators, business organizations and non-profits began working
together in 2006 to study and identify the causes of poor birth outcomes and
ways to improve them. Ten key policy solutions were identified through a
research and survey process that was published in a document called
“The Blueprint to
Improve West Virginia’s Perinatal Health.”
Ten years ago, West Virginia birth statistics were much brighter than today. The
State’s rates for pre-term birth, primary C-sections, vaginal births after
cesarean section (VBAC), and low birth weight infants were all more positive for
healthy outcomes.
If West Virginia could achieve improvements fewer babies would be lost and more
dollars would be saved by health insurance payers and by the State of West
Virginia. The State contributes health coverage for over 56% of the pregnant
women and newborn infants in our state, supports three medical schools and
numerous medical residency programs, and therefore has a vested interest in the
quality and cost of that care.
In 2007, the partnership will continue to work together to take action to create
change that will positively impact the health, well-being and futures of West
Virginia’s babies.
IF YOU ARE A WEST VIRGINIA PROVIDER OF PERINATAL HEALTH CARE AT ANY LEVEL IN WEST VIRGINIA,
WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE TELL US OF YOUR INTEREST HERE.
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Periodontal Infection and
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
by Robert Goldenberg, MD, Drexel University
College of Medicine and Bryan S. Michalowicz, DDS, MS,
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
Highlights:
Observational studies performed over the past decade
show...associations between periodontal disease and preterm
birth, particularly for younger babies (i.e., gestational
age less than 32 weeks).
--Preterm birth increased from 11% in women with no
periodontal disease to 19% in women with mild disease to 29%
in those with moderate-to-severe disease.
--Preterm birth also increased from 15% for those with
stable disease to 25% with progressive disease.
--The adjusted relative risk for preterm birth at less than
37 weeks was 1.6 for moderate to severe disease and 2.4 for
preterm birth at less than 32 weeks.
Given the high concordance of both periodontal disease
and pregnancy complications among African-Americans, "it is
not unreasonable to consider that periodontal disease may
contribute to the racial disparity in abnormal pregnancy
outcomes" in this population.
Read More
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY:
A WEST VIRGINIA PROBLEM
Unplanned pregnancy is
a growing problem in West Virginia. Its root causes
and remedies will be a focus of the WV Perinatal Partnership
in 2008.
Read more.
2007 PERINATAL WELLNESS
PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEES REPORT
The work of the 2007 PWP committees is complete. You can read/download the full 111 page
report here:
Appendices to the Foregoing Reports
Report and Recommendations of Committee on Drug Use During
Pregnancy Sub Committee on Medical Guidelines
An Examination of the Economic Feasibility of Alternate
Models for Delivery of Prenatal Services in Rural West
Virginia
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2006 WEST
VIRGINIA PERINATAL SUMMIT
The West Virginia
Perinatal Summit was held May 18, 2006 at the Marriott Hotel in
Charleston, WV. You can access and download, if you
wish, all of the proceedings and handouts
here.
WV KEY INFORMANT SURVEY
Thank you to over
200 perinatal health care providers serving West Virginia women and
their infants, for completing and submitting the Key Informant
Survey. The survey is now closed. The results are
here.
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MATERNAL
SMOKING IN WEST VIRGINIA
