Maternal Health Programs

Iowa’s Maternal Health Programs work to make sure more babies can celebrate their first birthday (prevent infant mortality) and improve birth outcomes. This is done through family centered, community based services. Iowa HHS Title V maternal health clinics provide preventive health services to Medicaid eligible and other low income women. Iowa supports 24 maternal health clinics that are monitored by the Bureau of Family Health (BFH) staff.

All of Iowa’s 99 counties have access to publicly funded maternal health services. Medical services provided by maternal health centers follow the standards of the American College of OB/GYN for ambulatory obstetric care. The BFH maintains a Title V funded contract with the University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for consultation. 

• Assess health insurance needs and assist with Medicaid presumptive eligibility

• Provide care coordination to link pregnant women to a medical home, follow up on appointments and send appointment reminders.

• Transportation assistance

• Education on the importance of prenatal care

• Promote flu vaccines and Tdap vaccines and COVID 19 vaccines.

• Health screening for depression, tobacco/substance abuse

• Breastfeeding education and support

• Signs of preterm labor

• Teach women to "Count the Kicks" Monitor your baby's movement  Count the Kicks website

• Signs of high blood pressure and preeclampsia

• Social assessment and guidance provided by social worker or RN

• Oral health screening by and RN or RDH with assistance finding a Dentist

• Postpartum assessment by and RN of Mom and baby done in the home, or clinic.

• Avoiding alcohol, tobacco substance abuse

• Choosing healthy foods and staying active during pregnancy

• Reducing stress

• Encouraging seat belt use

• Preventing shaken baby syndrome

• Ensuring a safe sleep environment for infants

• Waiting for labor and avoiding elective delivery prior to 39 weeks

• Enrolling in Text4baby and Count the Kicks.

• Promoting healthy birth spacing and reducing unintended pregnancies

• Preventing domestic and sexual violence and coercion

Among women of reproductive age, approximately 1 out of 10 women suffer from depression within the past year. Screening has improved identification of women with depression; however fewer than half of depressed women receive any treatment. Numerous barriers such as fear, stigma, lack of understanding of the significance of depression, lack of providers, language barriers, financial barriers or logistical barriers prevent women with depressive symptoms from obtaining treatment. Postpartum depression causes unnecessary suffering for the mother, and unfortunately can also have negative effects on the infant.  Early identification, prevention and treatment can alleviate suffering for a new mother and decrease the potentially harmful impact on the infant.

In an Iowa-based randomized controlled trial, researchers at the University of Iowa illustrated the effectiveness of Listening Visits when delivered by U.S. home visitors.  Listening Visits were associated with a statistically and clinically significant reduction in depression, improvement in life satisfaction, and were acceptable to the postpartum women. Based on the evidence the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services implemented Listening Visits in Iowa’s Title V Maternal Health Program in 2014.

This innovative approach has the potential to fill the gap in mental health treatment services for low income women who are at high risk for depression. It is a maternal depression intervention that can be provided by public health nurses, case managers or social workers with little or no prior counseling experience, increasing access to care.  Listening Visits are especially critical in rural Iowa where there is limited access to Mental Health professionals.

To request Listening Visit brochures, call the Healthy Families Line.