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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.

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
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Effect of Increasing the Supply of Skilled Health Providers on Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from the Midwives Service Scheme in Nigeria

This study highlights the complexity of improving maternal and child health outcomes in developing countries, and shows that scaling up supply of midwives may not be sufficient on its own.

Mar 15, 2017
Report

A Psychometric Study of the Modified Bridges for Newborns Screening Tool

This report describes RAND Corporation work evaluating the psychometric characteristics of the Modified Bridges for Newborns, a screening tool to identify high-risk mothers in Los Angeles Count who are eligible for supportive services.

Feb 6, 2017
Report

Maternity leave policies: Trade-offs between labour market demands and health benefits for children

This brief examines maternity and parental leave provision across European Union countries and its potential impact on the breastfeeding of very young babies (up to 6-months).

Oct 12, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

Four Case Studies to Explore the Added Value of Oxford AHSN

This report provides evidence that the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (Oxford AHSN) is capable of promoting high quality NHS care and delivering projects which improve patient outcomes, at a cost that appears to represent good value for money.

Sep 15, 2016
Commentary

Is It Time to Extend Maternity Leave Across Europe?

Any policy solution for extending maternity leave must strike a balance between protecting infant health through extended breastfeeding and mitigating any potentially negative impact on the mother's career progression or increased costs to business.

Sep 13, 2016
Commentary

The Economic Rationale for Investing in Family Planning in Sub-Saharan Africa

Proven benefits to reduced fertility — or to delayed start to childbearing and greater spacing between births — include lower maternal mortality, fewer unsafe abortions, reduced risks from early childbearing, and women's ability to engage in more income-generating opportunities.

Aug 3, 2016
Commentary

New Depression-Screening Guidelines Could Help Both Mother and Child

Behavioral health professionals and community agencies often do not consider the impact of parental depression on young children or focus on the adult's role as a parent. New guidelines recommending depression screening during primary care visits for pregnant women and new mothers are a critical first step.

Mar 18, 2016
Commentary

Africa Succeeds in Meeting Many Long-Term U.N. Development Goals

Africa's great strides toward meeting the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals are a compelling reminder of the continent's potential to create a more prosperous and sustainable environment for its people.

Dec 7, 2015
Journal Article

Maternal Health Status and Early Childbearing: A Test of the Weathering Hypothesis

This study examines the hypothesis of early childbearing as detrimental to maternal well-being.

Nov 24, 2015
Commentary

A Tale of Two Deliveries, or an Out-of-Network Problem

Two mothers gave birth within weeks of each other, at the same hospital, using the same employer-sponsored insurance. Both had an epidural. But one received a surprise physician bill for anesthesiology, while the other didn't have to pay a dime. Why?

Nov 4, 2015
Report

Evaluating the Impact of the Nigerian Midwives Service Scheme

To improve maternal and child health, the Nigerian government introduced the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), a program to increase access to skilled care in rural areas. Experts evaluated the impact of MSS and found that initial improvements were not sustained.

Sep 15, 2015
Research Brief

Evaluating Nigeria's Efforts to Improve Maternal and Child Health

Nigeria is the world's second-largest contributor to under-five and maternal mortality. To address low rates of use of maternal and child health services, the government deployed midwives to work in rural communities. How effective has this program been?

Sep 15, 2015
Commentary

Family Planning Must Be Part of the Humanitarian Response in Africa's Conflict Zones

Worldwide, nearly 800 women die every day due to mostly preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. More than half of these deaths occur in fragile states torn by armed conflict and generalized violence.

Jul 1, 2015
Content

Supporting Children and Families

RAND Labor and Population conducts research related to children and families, including childhood health and access to health care, children's success in early childhood programs such as child care and preschool, and government assistance programs for low-income families.

Apr 29, 2015
Tool

Investing in Early Social and Emotional Development Is Key

For children to flourish and succeed, they must be able to problem solve, handle stress and develop resilience, and interact appropriately with peers and adults. A study of children in Shelby County, Tennessee identifies factors in the home, child care setting, and community that contribute to social and emotional development.

Jan 15, 2015
Commentary

Insurance and Incentives: A Dual Approach to Try to Improve Maternal Health in Nigeria

Less than 5% of Nigerians have insurance; two-thirds of all health care costs are paid out of pocket. When people must pay out of pocket for health care at the point of service, this restricts access, excludes the poorest and most vulnerable, and leads to delays in patients seeking help.

Jun 10, 2014
Journal Article

Journal Article

Costs and Benefits of Treating Maternal Depression

Untreated maternal depression has serious consequences for the mother's long-term health and for her child's development and functioning.

May 1, 2014

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