, found that pregnant individuals receiving in-home support in Kent County's Strong Beginnings program, in partnership with Corewell Health and the state's Maternal Infant Health Program , saw a 57% reduced risk of having their babies prior to 32 weeks compared to individuals who received standard prenatal care without enhanced prenatal services. Expectant Black mothers experienced an even greater reduced risk by 67%.
Researchers analyzed four years' worth of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services birth outcome data consisting of more than 125,000 Medicaid-eligible moms and infants.An 18% reduced risk of births before 37 weeks and 114% increase in timely postpartum care in all birthing persons A 23% reduced risk of births before 37 weeks and 129% increase in timely postpartum care among Black birthing persons
"While there have been many studies that have looked at the effectiveness of well-established, evidence-based home visitation models, most have shown mixed results for birth outcomes," said Cristian Meghea, Ph.D., lead author and associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology in the MSU College of Human Medicine."These numbers strongly suggest that Strong Beginnings, with its partnerships, is highly effective.