US foundation awards $1.6m to improve maternal and child health outcomes

The US non-profit organisation Elevance Health Foundation has expanded its maternal and child health grants with an additional US$1.6m in awards.

Each grant will address maternal and child health, focusing on issues, including mental health, access to care, support, and health-related social needs.

The foundation says this second phase of maternal and child health grants are a part of the US$30m it plans to invest through 2024 to make significant progress on improving maternal and child health outcomes, bringing the total awarded thus far to more than US$18m.

Despite being one of the wealthiest developed countries, the US maternal mortality rate is double that of most other high-income countries, with black women three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy and birth-related causes than white women.

Additionally, rates of premature births have steadily increased since 2014 – the US preterm birthrate increased to 10.5 per cent in 2021, a four per cent increase from 2020.

Of those births, black and native American women are 62 per cent more likely to have a preterm birth and their babies are twice as likely to die compared to white women.

“With a purpose of improving the health of humanity, the Elevance Health Foundation is a key pillar in helping us advance health equity, especially when it comes to maternal and child health,” said Dr Shantanu Agrawal, chief health officer of Elevance Health.

“We’re beginning to see early results from our first phase of maternal health grantees, which further fuels our mission to eliminate health inequities.

“Our foundation’s grants are addressing key social drivers of health – such as where someone lives, economic stability, ethnic background, and more – to ensure that every pregnant woman and child has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.”

According to its website, the Elevance Health Foundation uses innovative social-mapping technology and analyses public health data to “gain a snapshot” of the major health issues affecting each state and address health disparities.

The new maternal and child health grantees join 18 organisations awarded last year who have already begun seeing early clinical outcomes.

As of December 2022, 474 babies have been born as part of the foundation’s grant programmes, of which 445 were born full term – this is a 6.1 per cent preterm birth rate, which is lower than the national 10.5 per cent average.

“This funding has allowed us to approach our work in new ways,” said Mandolin Restivo, executive director of Postpartum Support Virginia, an organisation the foundation awarded funding to last year.

“Heading into year two of this grant, we have already been able to triple the number of healthcare providers we have trained and have developed new strategies for providing services to those affected by maternal mental health issues.”