By Anushka Jariwala
Technology can be an essential tool for understanding public health issues and driving forward solutions that can impact communities, increase education and save lives. Whether this is an app that helps mothers keep track of their babies’ fetal movement, or a data management system that tracks feto-infant mortality rate
s (FIMR), these resources continually contribute to positive change.
The stillbirth rate in the U.S. is 5.73 fetal deaths per 1,000 total births, and this is a problem that disproportionately impacts Black pregnant people, according to Olivia Ceavers, a researcher from the Florida International University College of Public Health & Social Work. Compared to Hispanic and White mothers, Black mothers are more than two times as likely to experience stillbirth.
Researchers are hoping to change that.
During the 13th Annual State of the Public Health Conference at the University of Georgia, public health professionals were able to delve deeper into the issue of feto-infant mortality, stillbirth, and health disparities among minority groups.
“We know which groups are at highest risk and most vulnerable in the population. What about a targeted intervention to understand if CTK can be an effective method for this population? We first need to understand more about the specific needs and potential cultural difference,” said Ceavers.
Presenters also noted that about 1 in 4 stillbirths are preventable, with resources such as fetal movement monitoring, maternal education, and increased understanding of when to seek emergency obstetric care.
This is where the mobile app and health communication campaign, Count the Kicks, comes in.
Ceavers dove into this intervention because it is an important new way for mothers to take charge of their own health and the health of their babies. It helps individuals stay informed outside of regular check ups to decrease stillbirths and other life threatening pregnancy complications. The intervention encourages pregnant people to track their babies’ movements and kicks regularly.
This app is free and available in over 20 languages. For those without access to mobile technology, there is a wristband available that can also track fetal movement. The goal behind this intervention is to not only address the racial disparities surrounding this issue, but open up paths for increasing knowledge and skills to identify issues as they arise in pregnancy.
The session also covered interventions used to reduce feto-infant mortality in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah. Utilizing data from the Georgia Online Analytical Statistical Information System (OASIS), researchers have been able to understand which interventions were more effective, and which groups were more impacted by feto-infant mortality. Very clearly the research has found that there are higher levels of FIMR for teenagers, Black mothers, and those with lower education levels.
Across regions, the most effective interventions were focused on improving access to proper primary/preconception care, optimal pregnancy timing, promoting parental education, safe sleep and infant health supervision. These are all also significant to improving health equity particularly in mothers who are Black, teenagers, or from lower education levels.
Overall, it has become increasingly important to explore and implement new technologies into public health practice, particularly in ways that allow people to take control of their own health.
