Promoting Maternal Health in the Workplace – December 2003

The September PHC4 FYI focused on opportunities to improve maternal outcomes by recognizing the influences that shape quality maternity care, and underscored the need for unified data on the health of mothers and babies. This is only the beginning of purchaser activities that can improve maternity outcomes and ultimately restrain costs. Research has shown that unhealthy maternal behaviors, such as smoking, poor diet and inappropriate weight management contribute to sub par and very costly outcomes. Purchasers can impact maternal and infant health, and greatly reduce costs associated with poor outcomes by empowering positive lifestyle choices that encompass care before, during, and after a pregnancy. This FYI focuses on these modifiable behaviors and offers workplace strategies to address them.