Women who are key in maintaining healthy families, access the health system more than men, both for themselves and on behalf of their children.  Many become their child’s primary caregiver, a role that greatly influences household health overall.  Elder and long-term issues affect women more often because they live longer; have higher rates of disability and chronic health problems; and lower incomes that men on average, which puts them at a greater need for state and community ais such as Medicaid.  These are some of the reasons improving the domain of women/maternal health remains a priority for VI MCH. 

To improve women’s health, we need to address issues related to reproductive health, maternal deaths, malnutrition and noncommunicable diseases, through quality and affordable health services under universal health coverage. Major life transition such as pregnancy, motherhood and menopause can create physical and emotional stresses for women. A holistic, comprehensive, and life-course approach beyond reproductive health is needed to achieve better health of women – starting from pregnancy and maintained throughout the newborn, childhood, adolescence, and aging period. VI MCH wants to empower women to take care of their health.

Violence against women and girls is one of the top priority areas of concern requiring more and continued action.  MCH held a Children’s Mental Health Summit in July.  One of the topics discussed was domestic violence.  At the summit, the Department of Justice presented on the effects of domestic violence on children’s mental health.  From that training MCH and DOJ plans to partner to host activities and trainings to educate women on domestic violence, abuse, and the consequences of abuse, including physical injuries, traumatic brain injury and homicide. 

Health education is important to improve maternal and children’s outcomes. To increase awareness of breast cancer, MCH held a territory-wide breast cancer awareness walk during breast cancer awareness month.  Awareness surrounding breast cancer is incredibly important as early detection, often through screening, can catch the disease when it is most treatable. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. The program also distributed breast cancer brochures to clinics and OBGYN offices across the territory. The breast cancer awareness brochure was developed by the MCH Division and contained information about breast health, the importance of regular well visits, annual mammograms, and other information.

VI MCH created a Covid-19 brochure that is distributed to clinics and providers across the territory. There were major concerns around the risk of pregnant women testing positive for the virus.  The brochure provides Covid 19 education around pregnant women and women who are still breastfeeding and have been very helpful in providing Covid -19 education to families. Once providers have distributed the brochures they have on hand, they contact MCH to replenish.  MCH have been very diligent in ensuring providers receive additional Covid-19 brochures.  

MCH also created radio, social media, and television health awareness ads.  Specifically, an ad that focused on a child concerned about her pregnant mom contracting the coronavirus and the safety of her new baby sister was the first Covid-19 ad that was created by the program.  The ad was creative, provided COVID-19 education and a community favorite. During the height of the pandemic, the ad encouraged pregnant mothers to stay at home and if they must go outside wear a mask and sanitize.  The ad was aired on radio stations across the territory and became very popular.

VI MCH continues to promote evidence-based strategies to increase preventative medical visits through the Maternal Infants Early Child Homevisiting (MIECHV) and the Project Launch programs.  MIECHV services continued during the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic.  The program immediately switched to virtual visits and continued to provide services to at risk pregnant women in the territory.  In 2021 the program served 77 families.

Our Project Launch program continues to work with the MIECHV program and MCH clinics to support maternal women behavioral health needs.  The project launch program accepted referrals to support maternal mothers. MIECHV referred six (6) mothers to the Project Launch program for behavioral health services.

VI MCH have proven that increasing women’s health is a major priority.  The relationship of risk factors such as diet, physical lifestyle, stress, and health behaviors influence one’s health throughout life. Some risk factors can’t be changed such as genes and ethnicity. However, the program continues to encourage women to engage in healthy behaviors for those risks factors that are within their control such as diet and physical activity. In 2021a lot of focus was placed on the children population, however moving forward the program plans to increase health education and outreach to the women’s population.