For women of childbearing age (15-44), being healthy is important for their own well-being and also for the well being of any future children they may have. There are over 2 million women of reproductive age who live in Georgia. Multiple programs supported by the Georgia Department of Community Health help women stay healthy.
State’s Preconception Health Plan
Preconception care is the primary prevention of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality and presents the opportunity to improve the overall health women and children. Preconception care aims to improve reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes by promoting the health of a woman prior to conception, whether it is her first or subsequent pregnancy. Preconception care in Georgia consists of health promotion, screening for known risks as well as interventions to reduce biomedical, behaviors and social risks that may affect the health of the woman and her future pregnancy outcomes. Preconception health activities and family planning program are integrated within the Georgia Department of Community Health. These services are provided directly by county health departments, and contracted agencies, such as home visiting programs, using various combinations of federal, state and locally supported staff. Strategies are directed toward the reduction of unintended pregnancies and improvement of birth outcomes.
Preconception Health Activity Highlights
- NEW! The Georgia Preconception Care Toolkit is intended to support Primary Care Providers in the provision of evidence-based preconception care and family planning/contraceptive care as part of women’s routine primary health care. To access this toolkit click here.
- The Every Woman, Every Time Preconception Toolkit provides evidenced-based preconception care recommendations to health care providers. Funded by the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Public Health, and adapted with permission for the California Preconception Care, this tool kit is currently being tested among family medicine providers.
- The Interpregnancy Care (IPC) program at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta provided primary health care and dental services, enhanced case management and other outreach services to African-American women who delivered a very low birth weigh infant at the hospital and who qualified for indigent or charity care. Primary care and outreach services were delivered by a team comprised of a family physician, nurse midwife/family nurse practitioner, periordontist, nurse case manager, and a lay health advisor.
Georgia Chapter of the March of Dimes
Supports several preconception projects across the state, including: a) providing Folic Acid education and supplements; b) the Emory University School of Medicine and the World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Reproductive Health's Interpregnancy Care Project; and c) educational conferences for health care providers. The chapter also has community grants and community awards projects that improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
- The Community-Based Doula Project: This program provides first time pregnant teens ages 10-19 with a trained birth assistant to provide social and emotional support during pregnancy, labor and post delivery. Promoting positive development of mother and infant, this replication of a national model has demonstrated positive medical outcomes, lower incidence of complications during pregnancy, and an increase in bonding between mother and child - a measure that reduces risk of child abuse and neglect.
- Second Chance Homes Network: This network of homes throughout Georgia provides young mothers with support to become self-sufficient parents. Based in non-institutional settings, teen mothers are provided with supportive relationships, counseling, educational incentives and support for long-term economic independence, child development, and parenting and life skills.