Recommended Citation
Straughen JK, Clement J, Schultz L, Alexander G, Hill-Ashford Y, and Wisdom K. Community health workers as change agents in improving equity in birth outcomes in Detroit. PLoS One 2023; 18(2):e0281450.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Publication Title
PLoS One
Abstract
We examined whether pairing pregnant women with community health workers improved pregnancy outcomes among 254 Black women with singleton pregnancies participating in the Women-Inspired Neighborhood (WIN) Network: Detroit using a case-control design. A subset (N = 63) of women were recontacted and asked about program satisfaction, opportunities, and health behaviors. Michigan Vital Statistics records were used to ascertain controls (N = 12,030) and pregnancy and infant health outcomes. Logistic and linear regression were used to examine the association between WIN Network participation and pregnancy and infant health outcomes. The WIN Network participants were less likely than controls to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (odds ratio = 0.55, 95% CI 0.33-0.93) and had a longer gestational length (mean difference = 0.42, 95% CI 0.02-0.81). Community health workers also shaped participants' view of opportunities to thrive. This study demonstrates that community health workers can improve pregnancy outcomes for Black women.
Medical Subject Headings
Infant, Newborn; Infant; Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Community Health Workers; Pregnancy Outcome; Michigan; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Odds Ratio
PubMed ID
36787290
Volume
18
Issue
2
First Page
0281450
Last Page
0281450
