Prevention of Preterm Birth
In December 2020, NPQIC formed a statewide task force to examine factors associated with prematurity in Nebraska. Preterm birth rates were higher in women with chronic health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, and those who used tobacco products. In May 2022, in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, NPQIC issued a Call to Action: Improve Future Pregnancy Outcomes by Screening for Tobacco Use Now and endorsed the use of the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline to reduce tobacco use in women of childbearing age. Long-term tobacco use predisposes women to poor pregnancy outcomes and increases the risk of prematurity. Tobacco quitlines are a proven effective practice for assisting with tobacco cessation. All women of childbearing age should be screened and counseled about the harmful risks of tobacco use before and during pregnancy.
March of Dimes Report Card Released (November, 2023)
According to the 2023 March of Dimes Report Card for Nebraska, the preterm birth rate rose to 11.3% (10.8%). March of Dimes Report Cards from 2017-2023 show an increasing burden of prematurity for BIPOC women in Nebraska. Preterm birth rates for Black and Indigenous groups were 15.5% and 13.5% in 2022, while in 2017, they were 12.7 and 10.1 %. The preterm birth rate among babies born to Black birthing people is 1.5x higher than the rate among all other babies.
Update: ALIGN Nebraska Prenatal Care and Infant Mortality Policy Brief (February, 2023)
In 2022, NPQIC joined with the Partnership for a Healthy Nebraska and other partners to identify strategies for improving perinatal and maternal health outcomes in Nebraska. The ALIGN Nebraska, Maternal Child Health Committee, identified barriers that limited access to prenatal care and explored processes to improve early pregnancy notification (defined as within the first trimester or 42 days of enrollment in Medicaid) for Medicaid patients and other vulnerable populations. Read the ALIGN Nebraska Prenatal Care and Infant Mortality Policy Brief - a detailed view of prenatal care and infant mortality in Nebraska, plus measurable steps to improve outcomes for all moms and babies by 2030.
Project Resources
NEW 2023 March of Dimes Report Card for U.S.
NEW 2023 March of Dimes Report Card for Nebraska
NEW (June 2023)
- Maternal Health Quitline Brochure
- Maternal Health Quitline HCP Informational Flyer
- Maternal Health Patient Poster
These FREE resources can be downloaded or ordered using the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Order Form.
