OWH Launches New Maternal Health Site

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced maternal health as a national priority and released two strategic roadmaps to help guide our nation’s endeavors to improve maternal health. As a part of these efforts, the HHS Office on Women’s Health is excited to announce the launch of the new Maternal Health site on Womenshealth.gov.

The new maternal health site outlines the HHS vision for ensuring the United States is one of the safest countries in the world for women to give birth. It also highlights resources such as the HHS Maternal Health Action Plan , the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health and two innovative competitions to address maternal health disparities.

As part of the Administration’s broader efforts to improve health in America, the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing its vision for ensuring the U.S. is one of the safest countries in the world for women to give birth.

In order to realize this vision, America’s women and their families need a health care system they can rely on – a health care system that delivers care that is safe, high quality, and evidence-based – and strong communities to draw upon for support. They need a holistic approach to care that proactively identifies risk factors for poor maternal health outcomes (e.g., medical conditions, behaviors, or life circumstances) and engages a comprehensive set of resources, including clinical, behavioral, and social supports, to help mothers and their babies attain optimal pregnancy, birth, and post-delivery outcomes.

The Healthy Women, Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Futures: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America outlines this vision in full.

The four goals and three targets outlined in the Action Plan are as follows:

Goal 1: Healthy Outcomes for All Women of Reproductive Age

Because the most common cause of pregnancy-related death is cardiovascular and coronary conditions, it is critically important that the Department’s Action Plan prioritize prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease and coronary conditions have a significant impact on every stage of women’s lives – for example, high blood pressure during pregnancy increases the risk for future cardiovascular disease and death.

The Department will make new investments in evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease and other significant medical risk factors, and disseminate evidence-based public health messages that are culturally appropriate for high-risk populations.

Objective 1.1 Improve prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease for women of reproductive age by more effectively controlling blood pressure and preventing hypertension

Objective 1.2 Encourage evidence-based preventive and disease management services for other significant medical risk factors

To see the full report, click here.