Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceThe health and insurance status of pregnant low-income women with chronic illnessPRIMARY CONTACT:Stephanie J. Townsell, BSChE, MPHProject CoordinatorUIC, School of Public Health1603 W TaylorChicago, IL, 60612Phone: (312) 996-0940Fax: (312) 996-6994Email: stowns1@uic.eduCATEGORYPreconception health and health careChronic disease and MCH (Asthma, Diabetes, Obesity)FOCUSData FocusCO-PRESENTER(S)/AUTHOR(S):Erica Henry, ericamjhenry@gmail.com (Author)L. Michele Issel, Issel@uic.edu (Author)Arden Handler, handler@uic.edu (Author)BACKGROUNDEarly, high-quality prenatal care potentially optimizes healthy outcomes for women, infants, and families.However, low-income women are generally more likely to enter prenatal care later and thus, to havehigher rates of adverse birth outcomes. Improving timeliness of prenatal care among low-income womenis likely to require broad social and health policies that focus on factors affecting women beforepregnancy including pre-pregnancy insurance coverage. As preconception and interconception health caregain attention as strategies for improving pregnancy outcomes, it is important to understand the role ofinsurance coverage for low-income women prior to pregnancy, particularly among women with chronicillness.OBJECTIVESDescribe the potential relationship between pre-pregnancy health and insurance status of low-incomewomen; identify the key characteristics of a population of chronically ill, low-income pregnant womenbased on survey findings; evaluate the potential role of preconception and interconception care inimproving pregnancy outcomes among similar populationsMETHODSA structured survey asked 130 postpartum African American low-income women in two high-riskChicago communities about health (chronic illness) and insurance status before and during pregnancy.Survey results were analyzed using SPSS statistical program.RESULTSThe mean age of respondents was 25.4 years, almost 60% had a high school education or less, and theaverage number of previous live births was 1.9. During pregnancy, 42.3% received TANF, 80.8% usedWIC and food stamps, and 59.2% reported total household income under $1000/month.115