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CDC Releases New Guidelines for
Nurse-Midwives
21 April 2006
by Anai Rhoads Ford
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AnaiRhoads.org - The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new guidelines for
nurse-midwives practicing both in and out of hospitals across the
country Friday.
The CDC developed these recommendations based on a review of
published research and the opinions of specialists from the CDC/ATSDR
Preconception Care Work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception
Care.
The new guidelines include the following 10 recommendations:
- individual responsibility across the lifespan
- consumer awareness
- preventive visits
- interventions for identified risks
- interconception care
- prepregnancy checkup
- health insurance coverage for those with low incomes
- public health programs and strategies
- research
- monitoring improvements
The report also provides recommendations to improve other medical
conditions, personal behaviours, psychosocial risks, and
environmental exposures associated with difficult pregnancies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have classified the main
components of care into four categories, which are physical
assessment, risk screening, vaccinations (optional), and counseling.
Then there are eight areas of risk screening, which include
reproductive awareness; environmental toxins and teratogens;
nutrition and folic acid; genetics; substance use, including tobacco
and alcohol; medical conditions and medications; infectious diseases
and vaccination; and psychosocial concerns.
In a 2004 survey of the women aged of 18 to 44, only 84 percent had a
healthcare, preconception, or prenatal visit in the previous year.
Community health centers and other Federally Qualified Health Centers
(FQHC), including primary care and prenatal care, deliver services to
approximately 4.5 million women of childbearing age annually. These
centers are able to provide preconception care to women with an
income <200% of the federal poverty level and those with no health
insurance.[1]
The CDC hopes the guidelines slowly revamp the standard healthcare
while providing a more universal, comprehensive, evidence-based model
of preconception care.
Related Article:
Before Hiring a Midwife..
References:
[1] National Association of Community Health Centers. A nation's
health at risk II: a front row seat in a changing health care system,
2004. Washington, DC: National Association of Community Health
Centers; Special Topics Issues Brief No. 7.
©2006 Anai Rhoads Ford. Reproduction must be authorised in writing
by author only. Altering, redistributing, or selling this material is
strictly prohibited.
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