Maternal and Child Health News

U.S. births grew 1% in 2024 to 3.6 million, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists April 17 released

The National Institutes of Health April 7 released a study that found twins — smaller at birth on average than singletons — develop slower in early pregnancy than what was previously known. T

A National Institutes of Health study pub

The U.S. birth rate fell 2% in 2023 to about 3.6 million, according to final data released March 18 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A case study by the AHA's Community Health Improvement network explains how Children’s Mercy Kansas City created a new model to coordinate its community health efforts and make more progress at a faster rate.

President Trump Feb. 13 signed an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, to be chaired by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The commission is tasked with “investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases.” 

A study by the Penn State Department of Nut

The U.S. maternal mortality rate decreased to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 22.3 in 2022, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In this new “Caring for Our Kids” episode, David Wagner, pediatric psychologist at Oregon Health and Science University, discusses the Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare program and how this innovative approach is transforming care for vulnerable children.

Perinatal mental health disorders affect countless mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, yet access to comprehensive care remains a challenge.

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting applications until April 22 for its four-year Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program.

Highlights from the AHA's Advancing Health podcast include selections on obstetric services in rural communities and the growing role of chief wellness officers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Jan. 6 announced the 15 participants for its state Transforming Maternal Health Model: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The Senate Dec. 10 unanimously passed legislation reauthorizing the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program (H.R. 6960) for an additional five years.

In this conversation, Jennifer Richards, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Center for Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Jennifer Crawford, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, discuss the perspectives needed to provide maternal care for Indigenous peoples and the importance of awareness of their cultural and spiritual practices.

In this conversation, Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrician and gynecologist at Sanford Health Bemidji, discusses the dramatic expansion of maternal telehealth capabilities in Minnesota, and an inspiring telehealth program that reaches families in rural areas of the state.

The Health Resources and Services Administration Oct. 9 announced it will award nearly $19 million to 15 states for identifying and implementing maternal health strategies.

In observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, this conversation focuses on how Chester County Hospital in Pennsylvania deployed bilingual volunteers to learn how to address disparate patient outcomes driven by barriers to care such as food insecurity and transportation issues within its Hispanic patient population.

The AHA this week launched refreshed webpages dedicated to maternal and child health.