Maternal Health Outcomes
CIVHC illuminates opportunities for action by providing Change Agents access to the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD). In 2022, a Community-Focused Organization used CO APCD data to address maternal health disparities, a critical concern not just for our state but for the entire nation.
Despite being one of the wealthiest countries, the U.S. sees around 700 maternal deaths and over 50,000 severe health complications during childbirth each year. Black women, in particular, face disproportionately higher risks. This issue is influenced not just by clinical factors, but also by social determinants of health, such as socio-economic status and access to care.
To tackle these disparities, this Community-Focused Organization developed a comprehensive tool that identifies where and why mothers are at risk, using data down to the zip code level. Combining this data on the social determinants of maternal health with Colorado’s clinical health indicators from the CO APCD helped provide a more comprehensive understanding of maternal health challenges.
The goals were clear:
- Risk Analysis: By analyzing clinical factors, the Change Agent hoped to gain a better understanding of the risks associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This understanding then helps anticipate potential complications with greater precision.
- Intervention Strategies: Identifying effective points of intervention would enable clinicians to tackle the root causes of poor maternal health systematically, from community-wide initiatives to individual care plans.
- Predictive Tool Development: Developing predictive tools would empower health care providers to identify high-risk patients earlier, ensuring timely and focused care.
- Impact Assessment: Quantifying the effects of strategic investments in maternal health could better inform future decisions that are both effective and economical.
This project aimed to transform data insights into actionable strategies that reduce inequalities and improve maternal health outcomes. By linking community-level data with individual clinical data, this Change Agent’s objective was to offer a holistic view of maternal health that's greater than the sum of its parts.
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