Improving Postpartum Care and Trust in Healthcare for Women in Mississippi Delta Focusing on High-Risk Pregnancies and Community Engagement

What this Trial Is About

Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity rates in the United States have remained high since 1990, with significant racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities. These disparities are especially pronounced in the rural southeast, including the Mississippi Delta region. This research aims to establish the Mississippi Delta Research Center of Excellence for Maternal Health to address preventable maternal deaths, reduce severe maternal health complications, and promote equity in maternal health outcomes by partnering with the local community. The study evaluates a behavioral intervention using the PEN-3 Model, which is a sociocultural framework designed to assess and improve patient-clinical linkages that support positive maternal health outcomes. It includes two main projects one focused on the effectiveness of a community health worker home visiting program, and the other on improving communication and health literacy to increase trust and engagement in postpartum healthcare among women, particularly Black women, their families, and communities in the Mississippi Delta. Participants will be involved for 12 months from the time they consent to participate. Researchers will measure improvements in trust in the healthcare system, maternal health literacy from both patient and provider views, engagement in maternal healthcare, and strengthening family support structures. The study focuses on community partnerships, patient voices, and multisector communication strategies to address maternal health disparities in the region.

Patient-clinical Linkages to Improve Trust and Engagement in Postpartum Healthcare