Maternal and child health journal
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Matern Child Health J · Jan 2014
Symptoms associated with pregnancy complications along the Thai-Burma border: the role of conflict violence and intimate partner violence.
To assess the association between lifetime violence victimization and self-reported symptoms associated with pregnancy complications among women living in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Cross-sectional survey of partnered women aged 15-49 years living in three refugee camps who reported a pregnancy that resulted in a live birth within the past 2 years with complete data (n = 337). Variables included the lifetime prevalence of any violence victimization, conflict victimization, intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, self-reported symptoms of pregnancy complications, and demographic covariates. ⋯ However, lifetime IPV victimization was not associated with symptoms, after accounting for conflict victimization (aOR: 1.8; 95 % CI 0.4-9.0). Conflict victimization was strongly linked with heightened risk of self-reported symptoms associated with pregnancy complications among women in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Future research and programs should consider the long-term impacts of conflict victimization in relation to maternal health to better meet the needs of refugee women.
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Matern Child Health J · Jan 2014
Effect of an integrated care system on utilization for CSHCN in Florida.
In 2006, Florida began a pilot program under a federal Medicaid waiver to reform its Medicaid program in Broward and Duval counties. The Children's Medical Services Network, a subcontracted health care delivery system for Florida's children with special health care needs (CSHCN) enrolled in public insurance programs, participated in Medicaid reform through an Integrated Care System (ICS) for its enrollees. The ICS constitutes a significant departure from the subcontracted fee-for-service system used to deliver care to CSHCN in the non-reform counties, and limited information exists about its impact. ⋯ Results suggest that managed care under the ICS has impacted utilization, most significantly for inpatient care. The ICS presents a viable model of managed care for CSHCN that could result in cost savings. Results should be interpreted with care because the full effects of the ICS implementation may take more time to materialize.
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Matern Child Health J · Jan 2014
Formative research to examine collaboration between special supplemental nutrition program for woman, infants, and children and head start programs.
Both the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Programs serve low-income women and children at high risk for health disparities, yet they do not have a formal state-level partnership in Connecticut. Both programs serve children up to age five, yet children's participation in the WIC Program declines sharply after 2 years of age, limiting the potential benefits of cross-program participation. The goal of this study is to examine current and prospective collaboration efforts among the WIC and HS/EHS Programs in Connecticut and identify barriers to collaboration. ⋯ Staff from both programs strongly expressed interest in a cross-program collaboration (73 % of HS staff and 86 % of WIC staff). This research serves as a framework for how a state-level collaboration could be established in Connecticut, to enable these two programs to work together more efficiently and effectively for the benefit of mothers and children. Results can provide other State WIC Programs with a blueprint for collaborating with HS/EHS.