Multilevel, patient-centered plan to prevent high blood pressure in pregnancy

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project tests the HOPE intervention, designed with input from community partners, to help high-risk pregnant people follow guidelines for low-dose aspirin and regular blood pressure checks. It uses a cluster randomized design across clinics to compare HOPE plus standard prenatal care with access to doulas versus standard care alone. The study will enroll about 700 participants and is guided by well-established behavioral theories to address barriers from social determinants of health to provider trust. If successful, HOPE could become a scalable approach to reduce maternal complications from hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• University of Kansas Medical Center
  Kansas City, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Smith, Sharla Annette — University of Kansas Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Smith, Sharla Annette

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Improving treatment for high blood pressure during pregnancy

  This study is looking at the best ways to treat high blood pressure in pregnant people by using health records to find out which medications work best, when to start them, and how important it is to stick to the treatment, all to help ensure healthier pregnancies and better care for moms and their babies.

  NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11001151

• Understanding blood vessel changes in pregnancy-related high blood pressure

  This study is looking at how high blood pressure during pregnancy, especially in cases of preeclampsia, affects the growth of babies, using pregnant rats to learn more about how blood vessels work and what might help improve this condition.

  NIH research Brigham and Women's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-10481866

• How Medicaid Postpartum Coverage and PPD Screening Could Improve Diabetes and Blood Pressure Care After Birth

  A large NIH grant is studying how extending Medicaid after birth and mandating postpartum depression screening affect care for women with gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure.

  NIH research Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, United States · NIH-11401158

• Technology-based touchpoints to improve postpartum blood pressure care for people with hypertensive disorders

  A modern, phone- and app-based program helps people who had high blood pressure during pregnancy measure their BP at home and stay connected with care after giving birth.

  NIH research Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · Providence, United States · NIH-11400771

• Children's long-term health after treating chronic hypertension in pregnancy

  This grant studies how giving antihypertensive medicine during pregnancy for women with chronic high blood pressure affects their children’s health as they grow up.

  NIH research University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, United States · NIH-11372149

• Can nearby greenspaces reduce pregnancy-related high blood pressure and later chronic hypertension?

  This project looks at whether living near parks and leafy areas lowers the chance of high blood pressure during pregnancy and long-term high blood pressure for pregnant people, with attention to racial differences.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11237978

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.