BETTER: Better Birth Outcomes and Experiences Through Technology, Education, and Reporting
The Ohio State University
Principal Investigator
Ann S. McAlearney, ScD, MS
Co-Principal Investigator
William A. Grobman, MD, MBA
It is well known that Black mothers have more health problems during pregnancy than White mothers. These differences may be because of social problems, such as not having a place to live, not having enough food, or living with crime and violence. The BETTER team thinks that if they can learn about and help people with these problems when they are pregnant, mothers and their babies will be healthier. They will work closely with pregnant people to learn from them about the problems they see as most important, and how they would like to convey those issues during their care. They will also talk to doctors and nurses to understand how they would like to learn about these issues as they care for pregnant people. Using the information gained the BETTER study will design and test a new way to improve the health of pregnant people and their babies, by addressing their social issues.