HEALTH LITERACY TOPICS
MANAGING MY HEALTH
BE YOUR OWN STRONGEST ADVOCATE
Establishing a good relationship with your provider is an important step to ensuring good health. Understanding your healthcare, accessing preventive services, managing any chronic health conditions and being prepared when you attend your medical appointments can improve pregnancy outcomes, reducing preterm birth, low birthweight and infant and maternal death.
You will see the best outcomes when you speak up, ask questions and hold your provider accountable for ensuring that your needs are met.
DID YOU KNOW?
Good communication with your healthcare provider is associated with
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An increase in access to first-trimester prenatal care.
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An increase in the use of mental health services, and a decrease in babies that enter the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU.).
It is important that you take an active role in your healthcare, and Healthy Start can help you to build and navigate your relationship with your provider(s) through education and advocacy.
A PUBLIC HEALTH HIGH-PRIORITY
High rates of low birthweight births and infant deaths among Black women have been identified as a high-priority in public health.
Research has shown that care coordination services can play a role in changing outcomes for mothers and children, including:
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An increase in the use of prenatal care
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A reduction of preeclampsia, decreased tobacco use in mothers
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Fewer instances of preterm delivery and low birthweight
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Fewer babies being admitted to the NICU
CARE COORDINATION A BIG PLUS
The use of care coordination has been proven to improve the health of mothers and children, reducing health disparities.
