Maternal mortality rates in the state of Indiana have been consistently higher than the US national rate (Indiana Department of Health, 2020). The postpartum period (after birth) is the time of highest risk for maternal deaths. The purpose of this study is to implement a post-birth warning signs education program and evaluate its impact on knowledge and care-seeking behavior among postpartum women in rural communities. A quasi-experimental design with intervention and comparison groups will be implemented in four rural counties in Indiana. This will be done in collaboration with the Indiana Rural Health Association’s Healthy Start Communities that C.A.R.E Program. As part of the program, three trained Perinatal Navigators work one-on-one with women enrolled in the healthy start program. In this study, 2 of the perinatal navigators will provide evidence-based post-birth warning signs education to postpartum women in addition to their standard services (intervention group), while 1 perinatal navigator will provide standard services (comparison group). At the conclusion of the study, we hope to determine if the education program is effective in increasing knowledge and facilitating women’s care-seeking practices for their own health after childbirth.
STATUS: ACTIVE/IN PROGRESS
