Maternal and Child Health Research
Preserving and promoting breastfeeding support in Appalachia
October 26, 2022 As part of a special issue of the American Journal of Public Health, Gillings nutrition experts partnered with community breastfeeding advocates to co-develop a study exploring the challenges that lactation professionals and supporters experience in Appalachia.
Research finds reduced prenatal, postpartum care among states with punitive prenatal substance use policies
September 19, 2022 Prenatal and postpartum care for those who engage in substance use during pregnancy is more likely to be delayed or inadequate in states with policies that consider prenatal substance use to be child abuse or that require health care providers to report prenatal substance use to child welfare agencies.
Clinical Scholars leadership training creates new opportunities to advance health equity
September 8, 2022
Researchers in the Clinical Scholars program at UNC are uncovering new ways to ensure that inclusive leadership training can support institutional change and reduce the racial inequities perpetuated by health care systems.
Maternal and child health supplement provides strategies to strengthen the workforce
September 7, 2022 Dorothy Cilenti and Leslie deRosset, in the UNC Gillings Department of Maternal and Child Health, are among the co-editors of a special supplement to the Maternal and Child Health Journal titled “Developing and Strengthening the Current and Future MCH Public Health Workforce: Building Capacity, Aligning Systems and Addressing Emerging Challenges.” The articles cover a wide range of topics related to the work of providing continuing education and workforce development to those working in state and local maternal and child health.
The Abstract: May 31, 2022
May 31, 2022 Dr. Tanya Garcia receives a mentorship award, Dr. Eileen Barrett is named chair-elect of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians, and maternal and child health researchers publish a new report on workforce training.
Prenatal substance use linked to inadequate prenatal, perinatal care
May 11, 2022 Gillings School maternal and child health researchers found that people who engage in prenatal substance use are more likely to initiate prenatal care later and receive inadequate care before and after birth, with the most pronounced differences in those who report illicit substance use.
Improving maternal health equity through workforce development at UNC
April 19, 2022 The Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center at UNC-Chapel Hill aims to address systemic racism in maternal health and reduce inequities in maternal mortality through workforce training that centers equity.
Fewer women with disabilities use modern contraception in India, study finds
March 18, 2022 Women with disabilities in Rajasthan, India, are less likely to use modern forms of contraception compared to other users of family planning services, according to a new study from the Gillings School.
Women in urban Senegal seek less biased contraceptive access
February 21, 2022 Women in urban Senegal seeking family planning services tend to avoid providers with a bias that would prevent them from acquiring their preferred method of contraception, according to new research from Dr. Ilene Speizer.
Gillings students tackle maternal mental health in two equity-focused publications
February 15, 2022 Developing equitable policies to support mental health during the perinatal period — the months/years before and after birth — requires addressing the intersecting effects of racism, poverty, lack of childcare and inadequate postpartum support.
