Ohio State’s College of Pharmacy Aims to Reduce Columbus’s Infant Mortality Rate by 2025
The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy is launching a new initiative to reduce infant mortality in Columbus by 2025. The initiative, called “Ohio STRS COLA 2025,” will focus on improving access to prenatal care, increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives, and providing more support to new mothers.
Infant mortality is a serious problem in Columbus. In 2020, the infant mortality rate in Columbus was 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is higher than the national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is a comprehensive approach to reducing infant mortality in Columbus. The initiative will focus on the following key areas:
- Improving access to prenatal care
- Increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives
- Providing more support to new mothers
The Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is a bold goal, but it is one that is achievable. By working together, we can make Columbus a healthier place for all babies.
1. Access
Access to prenatal care is a critical component of reducing infant mortality. Prenatal care can help to identify and manage risk factors for infant mortality, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal health problems. It can also provide pregnant women with education and support on healthy behaviors, such as nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation.
- Expanding Medicaid coverage: One way to improve access to prenatal care is to expand Medicaid coverage to more pregnant women. Medicaid is a government health insurance program for low-income individuals, and it covers a wide range of health care services, including prenatal care. Expanding Medicaid coverage would ensure that more pregnant women have access to the care they need.
- Increasing the number of prenatal care providers: Another way to improve access to prenatal care is to increase the number of prenatal care providers. This can be done by training more doctors, nurses, and midwives to provide prenatal care. It can also be done by increasing the number of community health centers and other clinics that offer prenatal care services.
- Reducing the cost of prenatal care: The cost of prenatal care can be a barrier for some pregnant women. To reduce the cost of prenatal care, the government can provide subsidies to pregnant women who are uninsured or underinsured. Additionally, health insurance companies can offer plans that cover prenatal care with low or no deductibles and co-pays.
- Making prenatal care more accessible: Prenatal care should be accessible to all pregnant women, regardless of their location or transportation options. To make prenatal care more accessible, the government can provide transportation assistance to pregnant women who need it. Additionally, prenatal care providers can offer extended hours and weekend appointments to accommodate the schedules of working pregnant women.
By improving access to prenatal care, we can help to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies.
2. Midwives
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are registered nurses who have received additional education and training in midwifery. They are qualified to provide a wide range of prenatal, labor, and postpartum care, including well-woman exams, prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. CNMs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, birth centers, and private practices.
Increasing the number of CNMs is a key component of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative. CNMs provide high-quality, cost-effective care to women and their babies. They are also more likely to provide culturally competent care and to respect women’s choices about their birth experience.
- CNMs provide comprehensive care: CNMs are trained to provide a wide range of care to women and their babies. This includes prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. CNMs can also provide well-woman exams and family planning services.
- CNMs are cost-effective: CNMs are less expensive than physicians to provide prenatal care and delivery services. This is because they have lower overhead costs and are able to provide more services in a shorter amount of time.
- CNMs provide culturally competent care: CNMs are more likely than physicians to provide culturally competent care. This is because they are more likely to be from diverse backgrounds and to have received training in cultural competency.
- CNMs respect women’s choices: CNMs are more likely than physicians to respect women’s choices about their birth experience. This includes respecting women’s choices about pain relief, delivery position, and other aspects of their birth.
By increasing the number of CNMs, we can improve access to high-quality, cost-effective, culturally competent, and respectful maternity care. This will help to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies.
3. Support
Providing more support to new mothers is a key component of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative. New mothers are at an increased risk for postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. They are also more likely to experience physical health problems, such as fatigue, pain, and difficulty breastfeeding. Providing more support to new mothers can help to improve their mental and physical health, and it can also help to reduce the risk of infant mortality.
There are many different ways to provide support to new mothers. Some examples include:
- Providing home visits from nurses or social workers
- Offering support groups for new mothers
- Providing access to mental health care
- Helping new mothers to find affordable childcare
- Providing financial assistance to new mothers
Providing more support to new mothers is a cost-effective way to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that home visits from nurses can reduce the risk of infant mortality by up to 50%. Another study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that support groups for new mothers can reduce the risk of postpartum depression by up to 30%.By providing more support to new mothers, we can help to improve the health of mothers and babies and reduce the risk of infant mortality.
Conclusion
Providing more support to new mothers is a key component of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative. There are many different ways to provide support to new mothers, and it is a cost-effective way to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies.
FAQs about Ohio STRS COLA 2025
The Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is a comprehensive approach to reducing infant mortality in Columbus by 2025. The initiative focuses on improving access to prenatal care, increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives, and providing more support to new mothers.
Question 1: What is the goal of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative?
The goal of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is to reduce infant mortality in Columbus by 2025.
Question 2: What are the key components of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative?
The key components of the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative are improving access to prenatal care, increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives, and providing more support to new mothers.
Question 3: Why is improving access to prenatal care important?
Improving access to prenatal care is important because it can help to identify and manage risk factors for infant mortality, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal health problems.
Question 4: Why is increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives important?
Increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives is important because CNMs provide high-quality, cost-effective, culturally competent, and respectful maternity care.
Question 5: Why is providing more support to new mothers important?
Providing more support to new mothers is important because it can help to improve their mental and physical health, and it can also help to reduce the risk of infant mortality.
Question 6: How can I get involved in the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative?
There are many ways to get involved in the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative. You can donate to the initiative, volunteer your time, or spread the word about the initiative.
To learn more about the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative, please visit the website at www.ohiostrscola2025.org.
Tips to Reduce Infant Mortality
Infant mortality is a serious problem in Columbus. In 2020, the infant mortality rate in Columbus was 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is higher than the national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is a comprehensive approach to reducing infant mortality in Columbus. The initiative focuses on improving access to prenatal care, increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives, and providing more support to new mothers.
Here are five tips that you can follow to help reduce infant mortality:
Tip 1: Get regular prenatal care.
Prenatal care can help to identify and manage risk factors for infant mortality, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal health problems.
Tip 2: Find a certified nurse-midwife.
Certified nurse-midwives are qualified to provide a wide range of prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. They are also more likely to provide culturally competent care and to respect women’s choices about their birth experience.
Tip 3: Get support from your family and friends.
Having a strong support system can help you to cope with the challenges of pregnancy and parenting. Talk to your family and friends about your concerns and ask for help when you need it.
Tip 4: Take care of yourself.
Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can help to improve your health and the health of your baby.
Tip 5: Avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs.
Smoking, alcohol, and drugs can all harm your baby. If you are pregnant, it is important to quit smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs.
By following these tips, you can help to reduce the risk of infant mortality and give your baby a healthy start in life.
Conclusion
Infant mortality is a serious problem, but it is one that can be reduced. By working together, we can make Columbus a healthier place for all babies.
Closing Remarks on Ohio STRS COLA 2025
The Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is a bold and ambitious undertaking to reduce infant mortality in Columbus by 2025. The initiative’s focus on improving access to prenatal care, increasing the number of certified nurse-midwives, and providing more support to new mothers is a comprehensive approach to addressing this critical issue.
Reducing infant mortality is not just a matter of saving lives; it is also an investment in the future of our community. Every child deserves a healthy start in life, and the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative is a step towards making that a reality for all babies in Columbus.
We encourage everyone in the community to get involved in the Ohio STRS COLA 2025 initiative. By working together, we can make Columbus a healthier place for all babies.
