Community health workers as change agents in improving equity in birth outcomes in Detroit

Authors: Jennifer K Straughen, Jaye Clement, Lonni Schultz, Gwen Alexander, Yolanda Hill-Ashford, Kimberlydawn Wisdom

This study sought to examine whether pairing pregnant women with CHWs improved pregnancy outcomes among Black women with singleton pregnancies participating in the Women-Inspired Neighborhood (WIN) Network in Detroit, MI. A subset of women were recontacted and asked about program satisfaction, opportunities, and health behaviors. Results demonstrated that not only can CHWs shape participants’ view of opportunities to thrive, but they can also help improve pregnancy outcomes for Black women. Still, authors caution that interventions that incorporate CHWs in prenatal care programs should target the diverse social determinants of adverse pregnancy outcomes to ultimately make an impact in decreasing racial disparities.