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Maternal Health

Maternal health during and immediately after pregnancy is strongly correlated with access to and quality of prenatal medical care; nutrition; and food security. RAND's research on maternal health throughout the world includes studies of prenatal obstetric care for low-income women, the effects of public assistance on birth outcomes, maternal and infant mortality, family planning and birth spacing, prenatal substance use, and maternal mental health.

News Release

The NHS Spends Significantly Less on Pregnancy-Related Research Compared with Other Health Conditions

The National Health Service spends significantly less on pregnancy-related research compared with other health conditions. Funding for pregnancy research totaled £255 million from 2013 to 2017, or about £51 million a year. As pregnancy care costs the NHS £5.8 billion annually, this means that for every £1 spent on pregnancy care, less than 1 penny is spent on research.

Jan 14, 2020
Report

Report

Pregnancy research review: Policy report

This study presents a review of UK pregnancy research needs and priorities, comparing this to current research expenditure and setting the findings in the context of NHS costs related to pregnancy.

Jan 13, 2020
Journal Article

Journal Article

Healthcare at the Beginning of Life and Child Survival: Evidence from a Cash Transfer Experiment in Nigeria

We study the effects of a cash transfer program in Nigeria in which households were offered a payment of $14 conditioned on uptake of health services.

Dec 20, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Opioid Litigation and Maternal-Child Health: Investing in the Future

Funds from opioid litigation should be allocated in a way that benefits those most affected and reduces the risk of future harm.

Dec 19, 2019
Blog

How Americans Get the News, Iran, Caregiving: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how Americans consume the news, U.S.–Iranian relations, how federal disability payments help caregivers, and more.

Dec 13, 2019
Journal Article

Association of Punitive and Reporting State Policies Related to Substance Use in Pregnancy With Rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

State policies that impose punitive action against pregnant women who use illicit substances are associated with higher rates of infants being born with opioid withdrawal.

Nov 15, 2019
Commentary

Meghan Markle May Avoid the Spotlight After Giving Birth and Send a Powerful Public Health Message

Meghan Markle plans to break from royal tradition by declining to present her baby to the public on the the steps of the maternity ward, hours after giving birth, with flawless hair and makeup. This could bring attention to many of the postpartum challenges faced by women everywhere.

Apr 11, 2019
Tool

Simulation of County Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Rates Tool

This web-based tool aims to inform policymakers about the rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome by county across eight states from 2009 to 2015. This analysis is displayed via maps and interactive charts.

Mar 15, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Workfare and Infant Health: Evidence From India's Public Works Program

India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which prioritizes female participation, increased newborn mortality among women eligible to participate. Work-related stresses adversely affect fetal health; however maternal work participation may have positive income effects for older children.

Jan 29, 2019
Report

The Welcome Baby Program: An Implementation and Outcomes Evaluation

Findings from an evaluation of First 5 LA's Welcome Baby universal home visiting program showed significant variation across sites, but generally positive responses from participants.

Dec 11, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Utilization of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Services Among Pregnant Women in HIV Care in Uganda: A 24-Month Cohort of Women from Pre-Conception to Post-Delivery

Improved provider-client communication could enhance post-birth care and prevention of mother-to-child transmission among HIV infected women in care.

May 3, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Stigma Gets in My Way: Factors Affecting Client-Provider Communication Regarding Childbearing Among People Living with HIV in Uganda

Among Ugandan HIV clients and health care providers, communication about childbearing needs is poor and associated with stigma.

Apr 10, 2018
Journal Article

Effect of the Affordable Care Act on Breastfeeding Outcomes

When new mothers have affordable access to lactation support services and breast pumps, they are more likely to breastfeed until their infants are ready to transition to solid foods.

Feb 9, 2018
Journal Article

Cesarean Deliveries and Maternal Weight Retention

Cesarean delivery does not lead to greater maternal weight retention after pregnancy.

Oct 12, 2017
News Release

News Release

Nation's Public Cord Blood Banks Provide Benefits, Despite Drop in Use

The nation's public umbilical cord blood banks provide benefits that far outweigh their costs and should continue to receive federal support, even though use of cord blood stem cells from the banks has been declining.

Sep 29, 2017
Report

Public Cord Blood Banks Provide Benefits Despite Drop in Use

U.S. umbilical cord blood banks provide benefits that far outweigh their costs. The national cord blood system should continue to receive federal support, even though use of cord blood stem cells from the banks has been declining.

Sep 28, 2017
Research Brief

Public Cord Blood Banks: Worthy of National Investment

RAND studied trends affecting public cord blood banks and considered changes to the program to buttress banks' financial stability. Researchers found a system worthy of investment, especially if it helps improve the quality of the national inventory.

Sep 28, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Going to Scale: Design and Implementation Challenges of a Program to Increase Access to Skilled Birth Attendants in Nigeria

A program to increase the number of skilled birth attendants in Nigeria was hampered by design, implementation and operational challenges.

Jun 13, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Emergence and Promise of Telelactation

Telehealth services to support lactation may hold particular promise, but additional research is needed to determine whether the benefits outweigh potential challenges.

Jun 2, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Correlates of Electronic Cigarettes Use Before and During Pregnancy

Women of reproductive age were more likely to use electronic cigarettes than smoking cessation aids to quit smoking, suggesting an urgent need to understand the potential risks and benefits of e-cigarette use in this population.

May 19, 2017

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