Dr. Karyl Rattay, Executive Director of the Division of Public Health for Delaware Health and Social Services, returned to discuss Delaware’s initiatives toward improving the birth outcome, noting that not all moms and babies have the opportunity for a good outcome in the state. Poverty, racial bias and discrimination, housing and access to care affect the health of both. As the US continues to have higher numbers of mortality and complications than any other industrialized nation, Delaware is near the bottom of the states and infant mortality is a good indication about a population’s health overall. We have more chronic disease and higher smoking rates. Residents are less healthy preparing for babies and intergenerational poverty is a main cause, healthy stress free women mean healthy babies. Latino women and women of color and their babies have even lower outcomes.
Dr. Rattay provided context, of the 700 pregnancy related deaths in the US last year, one third happened during pregnancy, one third during the birth and the last third in the following year. Complications were impacted by underlying health conditions including heart and diabetes issues. Three of every five could have been saved with better medical care.
Dr. Rattay discussed ways the state was working on the problems, including opportunity schools. More funding for mental health and substance abuse and the First Lady’s program to identify and address ACE – adverse childhood experiences. She also praised the work of Community Legal Services who partner with local community health providers to address the legal issues and barriers that cause stress or economic challenges, including rent disputes, documentation, health care or support, all of which affect low income and immigrant mothers and families. Safe, stable housing and transportation make for better outcomes overall. She also noted that the undocumented – or those residing with them – fail to utilize services available, including WIC nutrition for mothers and babies. Enrollment is dropping, despite the fact that the first 1,000 days are the most important. A safe trauma-free home, good nutrition, and neurological stimulation are key to a healthy child.
She spoke about the initiatives born from their most recent Delaware Mother and Infant Consortium on the importance of play and racial implicit bias and touched on their legislation work for peri-natal data sharing and obtaining more training for community health workers.
For more information about maternal health visit DEThrives.com. For information about Delaware Health and Social Services go to DHSS.gov. For help with addiction go to HELPISHERE.com