Multistate data from MIHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) highlight the need for strategies to increase access to contraceptive methods and related services, reduce the risk for unintended pregnancy, and minimize the number of pregnancies affected by Zika infection. State-based estimates of contraception use were provided for postpartum women at risk for unintended pregnancy.

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MIHA data are used by state and local WIC program directors to inform grant writing activities and customize outreach strategies to address specific barriers to participation in WIC during pregnancy. A recent report provides new insights for State and Local WIC agencies seeking to increase enrollment during pregnancy among eligible women. Using 2010-2012 MIHA data, this report describes why eligible pregnant women do not participate in WIC. The percent of women reporting each reason for not participating is shown for the 10 counties with the most births in California and for subgroups by race/ethnicity and other characteristics.

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Multistate data from MIHA and PRAMS were used to estimate how many women were eligible for but not enrolled in WIC during pregnancy, and to describe their characteristics and risks. Results identify the scope of WIC outreach needed to include more eligible nonparticipants in WIC and whom to target.

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In 2009, the California Dental Association (CDA) Foundation and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX, convened an expert panel to review the relationship between health and oral health status, treatment of oral diseases, and pregnancy outcomes. MIHA results describing who lacks sufficient oral health care and risk factors for not receiving that care in pregnancy were presented. As a result of the expert panel review, the CDA Foundation developed new evidence-based guidelines encouraging delivery of oral health care to women before, during and after pregnancy.

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The development of nine Healthy People 2020 Maternal, Infant and Child Health Objectives allows California to compare the well-being of our maternal and infant population to national benchmarks. The new objectives address multiple maternal health factors prior to pregnancy, including preconception health discussions with providers, folic acid use, tobacco use, alcohol use and healthy weight. Additional objectives address postpartum contraceptive use, relapse of smoking postpartum, receipt of a postpartum visit, and placing infants on their backs to sleep.

Healthy People 2020 Maternal and Infant Health Objectives...