Improving postpartum care to reduce maternal health inequities
Official title: Community Care Implementation to Reduce Maternal Health Inequities
Funded at Jackson State University · NIH-10908734 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to improve care for new moms in the Mississippi Delta by offering home visits that provide personalized support for their health, mental well-being, and social needs, helping them and their babies thrive after childbirth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,200,624 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113238-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908734 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are high-risk pregnant women and new mothers living in the Mississippi Delta region.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in the postpartum period or those living outside the targeted geographic area may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing postpartum care for women, particularly in the Mississippi Delta, where maternal health disparities are significant. It aims to implement a home visiting program that provides tailored support addressing clinical, mental health, and social needs of high-risk mothers. By utilizing evidence-based practices, the program seeks to improve maternal and newborn outcomes through a series of follow-up visits rather than a single appointment. The approach is designed to tackle the unique challenges faced by women in this region, including higher rates of postpartum depression and socioeconomic stressors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a significant reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity rates, particularly among underserved populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that home visiting programs can improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, although this specific approach in the Mississippi Delta is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Jackson State University
Jackson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polk, Dr Beryl — Jackson State University
- Study coordinator: Polk, Dr Beryl
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Non-invasive, continuous blood pressure monitoring for prenatal maternal health
A wearable device from PyrAmes uses comfortable, non-invasive sensors and smart software to constantly monitor a pregnant person’s blood pressure and heart health so doctors can protect both mom and baby.
-
Identifying how ableism affects pregnancy and postpartum care for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities on Medicaid
This grant studies how bias and barriers in the healthcare system affect pregnancy and postpartum outcomes for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are on Medicaid and their babies.
-
UIC Maternal Health Center of Excellence brings together teams to improve maternal health in communities
A center-based program at UIC will work with communities and researchers to reduce maternal death and serious health problems by improving systems of care.
-
SAFE Futures: Supporting AIAN Maternal Health with remote monitoring and community help
A pilot program tests a culturally tailored, tech-supported prenatal care approach for American Indian and Alaska Native women to improve engagement and communication with providers.
-
Tailored postpartum care strategies to improve maternal health
A real-world study tests a customized set of postpartum care practices led by community partners to improve new mothers' health and safety.
-
Ama Bidziil: Strengthening AI mothers’ health with community doulas
A Johns Hopkins-led project will explore how AI community doulas affect maternal health for American Indian women in rural Navajo communities.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.