Helping address maternal health disparities in Massachusetts

For new moms-to-be, preparing for a baby can be an exciting time. It can also be a little overwhelming. Getting care before, during and after a pregnancy, as well as prioritizing overall well-being, can help both mothers and babies with a healthy start.

However, research shows that nearly 1 in 4 women do not start prenatal appointments in the first trimester, a vital time to help support a healthy pregnancy.¹

In the Greater New Bedford, Massachusetts area, additional data and community insights from the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center (GNBCHC) show this is an area of concern, leading to potential health disparities in birth outcomes. Mistrust of the health care system, language barriers and low health literacy can also contribute to higher rates of preterm births and low birth weights.

UnitedHealthcare is committed to supporting all communities, and those that are disproportionately impacted by health disparities that negatively affect maternal and infant health outcomes.

To help address these gaps in care, UnitedHealthcare’s SDOH and Community Impact team collaborated with GNBCHC and the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) to establish a culturally relevant maternal health program for prenatal through postpartum care. The CEDC serves as a trusted community-based organization that uses trained Promotoras and Community Health Workers who speak K’Iche and Spanish to provide health information and resources to women in the community.

“At UnitedHealthcare, we are dedicated to the health and well-being of our local communities,” said John Madondo, CEO of the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Massachusetts. “By partnering with local organizations such as GNBCHC and CEDC, we are able to ensure that everyone has access to the care and resources they need.” 

This multi-year, multi-partner collaboration is part of the UnitedHealthcare Catalyst™ program, which brings together cross-sector partners to improve health disparities and foster sustainable, community-centric solutions. The Massachusetts partnership is focused on:

• Improved health literacy
• Increased adherence to maternal care plans
• Improved birth outcomes (birth weight and gestational age)
• Connection to care supports

In the first year since being launched, the program’s participants have achieved significant outcomes, including:

• 61% of participants actively engaged in first trimester prenatal care
• 100% of participants’ babies were delivered full-term with healthy birth weights
• 95% of participants screened negative for postpartum depression

“It has been wonderful partnering with the CEDC and UnitedHealthcare to bring this program to life,” said Catia Smith, chief clinical operations officer at GNBCHC. “We have seen impactful results and are working on expanding the program to support pregnant teens in schools.”

This program brought together a diverse set of partners and demonstrated how public, nonprofit and private sectors can coordinate to address root causes of maternal health disparities, leading to measurable health outcomes. By prioritizing culturally relevant prenatal and postpartum care, the program has improved health literacy, access to care and patient engagement.