Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the Tulsa Healthy Start Program on community birth outcomes.

Significance:

The Tulsa Healthy Start Program is uniquely designed to reduce infant mortality and morbidity through triage screening for high-risk pregnancies, case management, community outreach and case finding, and educational programs. The impact study is significant as it indicates the program outcomes achieved.

Design/Background/Rationale:

Evaluation of community programs aimed at reducing infant mortality and morbidity is a necessary component to determine the effectiveness of the interventions.

Methods/Description:

The Tulsa Healthy Start Program is a community multi-intervention program to reduce infant mortality. Descriptive statistics compare birth outcomes over the program period of 2001-2004.

Findings/Outcomes:

Outcomes for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (or those below 1,500 g), low birth weight (LBW) infants (or those between 1,500 and 2,500 g), infant mortality rate (IMR), neonatal mortality rate (NMR), post neonatal mortality rate (PNMR), and perinatal mortality rate will be discussed. Of particular note is the decrease in the number of VLBW infants during the last 2 years of the project period.

Conclusions:

The Healthy Start Program is improving the birth outcomes for high-risk pregnant women, particularly by decreasing the number of VLBW infants.