In 2004, we compared MIHOW Mississippi mothers to similar mothers and found that:
· 90% began prenatal care in the first trimester, compared to 75% of pregnant women in Mississippi
· 81% received adequate prenatal care, compared to 69% of Mississippi women
· 7.7% gave birth to a low birth weight infant, compared to 14.3% statewide
· 95.3% of participants eligible for WIC enrolled, compared to 75% statewide
· almost 90% of MIHOW infants were on schedule with recommended well-child visits at six and nine months
· 98.5% secured some form of health insurance, compared to the national rate of 81.6%
Several
qualitative and quantitative studies (1990, 1992, 1995)
show that the MIHOW program makes a difference . . .
MIHOW
mothers score significantly higher on nationally recognized
scales for mother-infant interaction, affection, and stimulation
than comparison mothers, leading to . . .
- greater sense of purpose
- greater sense of hope
- greater sense of control over their lives
- deeper connection with their child
MIHOW
promotes sound health practices and preventive care during
pregnancy, resulting in . . .
- earlier prenatal care
- more prenatal care visits
- more needed vitamin and iron supplements
- less smoking and caffeine consumption
- better preparation for labor and delivery
Children
of MIHOW participants show developmental advantages in . .
.
- language usage
- social skills
MIHOW
mothers are more likely to breastfeed, which can have far-reaching
health benefits by . . .
- promoting resistance to the most common diseases in
infants
- preventing lymphomas and diabetes in children
- decreasing mothers' risk for breast and ovarian cancer
Contact
with outreach workers during the first three years of parenting
leads to . . .
- non-violent positive discipline
- more timely immunizations for their children
MIHOW
mothers had fewer children than other mothers with similar
backgrounds (controls). Case management and mentoring by peers
helps to . . .
- prevent teen pregnancies
- delay second pregnancies
MIHOW
participants are more likely to get help for themselves, increasing
access to health and social services in isolated communities.
Such preventive measures save money by . . .
- spotting potential problems early
- facilitating early intervention
- preventing more expensive, acute problems
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