Research

The Maternal Health Network is committed to using the best available research to ensure the maternal health system in San Bernardino County is best positioned to support families before, during, and after pregnancy.

The Maternal Health Network uses the most up-to-date research to inform our work on behalf of families in San Bernardino County. The Network has compiled various research reports specific to maternal and infant health that inform the experiences and outcomes of babies and mothers.

Trends in the field

Black Pregnant Women "Get the Most Judgment": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Black Women at the Intersection of Race, Gender, and Pregnancy

Researchers interviewed 24 Black pregnant women to learn about their experiences of gendered racism while pregnant and concerns about parenting Black children. The researchers supports interventions such as pregnancy support groups, broader societal conversations valuing Black women and their pregnancies, and evidence-based coping strategies.

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Irth Application

Irth (as in Birth, but we dropped the B for bias) helps Black and brown women and birthing people have a more safe and empowered pregnancy and parenting experience by allowing you to see how other parents of color, just like you, experienced care at a doctor or hospital. Then we turn those collective experiences into meaningful data to push for change within health systems.

Listening to Mothers in California

Listening to Mothers in California is a statewide, population-based survey of women who gave birth in 2016. Data reports specific to the experiences of Black and Latina mothers are also available.

Maternal and Infant Health Assessment

The Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA), is an annual, statewide-representative survey of women with a recent live birth in California.

Breastfeeding Initiative

The California Department of Public Health partnered with WIC to develop social media posts, educational resources, and graphics to promote the many health benefits of breastfeeding and chestfeeding.

Family Health Outcomes Project

University of California, San Francisco has created data profiles for each county in California specific to the maternal and infant health outcomes.

The Over medicalization of Childbirth

Research gathered from the Listening to Mothers in California 2016 survey specific to hospital birthing experiences.

Health Coverage and Care for Undocumented Immigrants

The Public Policy Institute of California published a report in 2015 discussing the Affordable Care Act and its access for undocumented immigrants

March of Dimes Report Card

The March of Dimes produces annual Report Cards available at the state or county level, which monitors progress on key indicators and proposals for state actions to improve maternal and infant health.

Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System

Each year, CDC requests each state to voluntarily send copies of death certificates for all women who died during pregnancy or within 1 year of pregnancy, linked live birth or fetal death certificates, and additional data when available. This data is compiled into an annual report.

CDC | California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative

The Public Policy Institute of California published a report in 2015 discussing the Affordable Care Act and its access for undocumented immigrants.

Black Mamas Matter

This toolkit has helped lay the groundwork for policy change while highlighting Black mamas’ human right to safe and respectful care.

Hospital-Level Variation in the Frequency of Cesarean Delivery Among Nulliparous Women Who Undergo Labor Induction

This study evaluated the use of administrative data for identification of labor induction and estimated the variation in cesarean delivery rates among low-risk women who underwent labor induction.

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