Mobile Centering Pregnancy program for Marshallese mothers in Arkansas
Official title: Determine the Clinical Effectiveness of MobileCentering Pregnancy to Improve Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes of Marshallese in Arkansas
Funded at Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst · NIH-11193925 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Offers mobile group prenatal care to pregnant Marshallese women in Arkansas to improve mothers' and babies' health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $74,299 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM109096-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193925 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant Marshallese women living in Arkansas, especially those early in pregnancy or with limited access to regular prenatal care, are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not Marshallese, not pregnant, or already receiving comprehensive in-person prenatal care elsewhere are unlikely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
If you're a pregnant Marshallese woman in Arkansas, this program uses a mobile version of Centering Pregnancy—group prenatal visits delivered by phone or online—to give regular support, education, and monitoring during pregnancy. The team tracks outcomes like preterm birth, low birthweight, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, and breastfeeding using clinic information and birth records. The program aims to increase prenatal visit attendance and provide culturally tailored counseling to address barriers to care. Participation typically means joining scheduled group sessions, sharing health information with the study team, and allowing access to your pregnancy and birth records.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could increase prenatal care attendance and reduce preterm birth, low birthweight, and pregnancy complications for Marshallese mothers and their infants.
How similar studies have gone: Group prenatal care (Centering Pregnancy) has improved some birth outcomes in other groups, but mobile, culturally tailored delivery for Marshallese communities is newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ayers, Britni Lee — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Ayers, Britni Lee
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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.