An Evaluation of the Pathways Community HUB Approach To Improving Birth Outcomes: A Retrospective Study Using...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Low birth weight (LBW) is a critical factor in neonatal mortality.
• High-risk pregnancies require effective interventions to improve birth outcomes.
• The Pathways Community HUB Institute® Model (PCHI® Model) is a community-based program designed to support high-risk populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the PCHI® Model in improving birth outcomes for high-risk pregnant women.
• To assess the impact of the PCHI® Model on reducing the incidence of low birth weight and preterm birth.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study using data from the Pathways Community HUB Program (Community Health Access Project - CHAP) and the Ohio Department of Health (2014-2017).
• Propensity score matching (1:1 nearest neighbor) was used to compare 315 participating women with 315 non-participating women.
• Conditional logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the impact on preterm birth and birth weight.

Main Results:

• The incidence of LBW was lower in the CHAP group (8.6%) compared to the non-CHAP group (12.4%).
• CHAP participants showed a 43% reduced likelihood of low birth weight births (OR=0.572).
• Early first-trimester enrollment in the CHAP program was associated with a lower likelihood of delivering a LBW infant.

Conclusions:

• The PCHI® Model effectively improves prenatal care utilization and reduces LBW incidence among high-risk pregnant women.
• Early engagement in the Pathways Community HUB program, especially during the first trimester, is linked to better birth outcomes.
• Longer program participation duration correlates with improved results for high-risk pregnancies.