Monday, Jun 2, 2025 • 12 pm to 1 pm

Virtual

Training Sessions

Addressing Rural Maternal Health Challenges: Insights into Behavioral Health Care Needs, Gaps, and Opportunitites for Future Research

Abstract

Background: Pregnant and postpartum individuals living in rural communities are more likely to experience poor maternal health outcomes than the general population. Efforts are underway to improve health outcomes for high-risk populations, but there is no coordinated and stakeholder-generated research agenda to understand how to improve the health of rural pregnant and postpartum individuals most effectively. More information is also needed about how to engage individuals in rural regions in the development and conduct of maternal health research.

Objectives: Our main objective was to create a stakeholder network committed to improving rural maternal health outcomes through research and implementation of promising care models. We did this through the development of a Rural Maternal Health (RMH) Roadmap focused on stakeholder-informed priorities and existing research gaps and an advisory committee which will monitor the use of the RMH Roadmap.

Activities: We organized and convened a Rural Maternal Health Advisory Committee (RMHAC) made up of Pennsylvania-based and national stakeholders with expertise in various elements of rural maternal health to develop and monitor our RMH Roadmap. We facilitated four community engagement studios with rural pregnant and postpartum individuals to understand their research priorities and determine strategies to support their engagement as members of a research team. We also conducted interviews with key informants to understand diverse perspectives about rural maternal health research gaps and priorities.

Project collaborators: We contracted with three consultants including the developer of a stakeholder engagement specialist from Brandeis University, a mother in recovery who provides substance use services in rural Pennsylvania, and a rural obstetrics provider who co-founded the Lancaster Diversifying Doulas Initiative which trains doulas of color to support expecting Black and Latinx individuals. Additional collaborators include the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Rural Health Redesign Center, PA College of Nurse Midwives, and several others.

Objectives

  • Learn about three strategies used to engage diverse individuals in the RMH Roadmap development process.
  • Obtain and overview of overarching rural maternal health research priorities.
  • Receive in depth information about rural maternal health priorities related to mental and behavioral health.
  • Gain information about new opportunities that are underway as a result of this project.

This work was supported through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI®) Award (EACB-26920). All statements in the Rural Maternal Health Roadmap are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI®, its Board of Governors, or Methodology Committee.

Accreditation

PHYSICIAN (CME)

The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

NURSING (CNE)

A maximum of 1.0 nursing contact hours will be awarded. Participants will be able to claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the program.

SOCIAL WORK

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 continuing education credits.

Psychologist (APA)

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

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