Development and Unfolding of the Life Course Movement in the Field of Maternal and Child Health: An Oral History.

INTRODUCTION: A life course perspective in maternal, child, and family health allows for integrated exploration of outcomes, incorporating multifactorial determinants of health to interrogate sources of inequity and identify opportunities for intervention. This article explores the historical development, integration, and implications of the contemporary life course perspective in the field of maternal and child health (MCH), and particularly the people and events which institutionalized the framework as central to national and local MCH practice and research over the last decades. METHODS: Drawing on an oral history approach, key leaders of the life course movement in MCH were interviewed. Lived experiences and personal recollections of six interviewees were recorded and synthesized using a narrative descriptive approach to portray the social ecology of the movement's origins. RESULTS: We documented systematic efforts made in the first two decades of the 21st century to consciously promote life course through convening a National MCH Life Course Invitational Meeting, incorporating life course as a foundational framework for strategic planning at the Maternal Child Health Bureau, and development of tools and resources by MCH professional organizations. DISCUSSION: The integration of life course theory into the MCH field signified a major shift towards addressing protective and social factors, which aligns with the field's historical emphasis on social justice and rights-based approaches, and parallels the broader public health movement towards social determinants of health and the need to address structural racism. The ongoing relevance of the life course approach in promoting reproductive justice and addressing inequities in health underscores the historical importance of its adoption and use in the current mainstream of MCH research, policy, and practice.

Frequency of Prenatal Care Visits: A Core Outcome Set for Prenatal Care Schedules.

Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a core outcome set for the frequency and modality of prenatal care visits. Material and Methods: A consensus development study was conducted in the United States with participants, including 31 health care professionals, 12 public policy members or public health payers, and 18 public members, representing 24 states. A modified Delphi method and modified nominal group technique were utilized. Results: Twenty-one potential core outcomes were developed by combining the outcomes reported in three systematic reviews that evaluated the frequency of prenatal care visits or modality of prenatal visit type (e.g., in person, telemedicine, or hybrids of both). Eighteen consensus outcomes were identified from the Delphi process, following which 10 maternal and 4 neonatal outcomes were agreed at the consensus development meeting. Maternal core outcomes include maternal quality of life; maternal mental health outcomes; the experience of maternity care; lost time; attendance of recommended visits; unplanned care utilization; completion of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists-recommended services; diagnosis of obstetric complications-proportion and timing; disparities in care outcomes; and severe maternal morbidity or mortality. Neonatal core outcomes include gestational age at birth, birth weight, stillbirth or perinatal death, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Conclusions: The core outcome set for the frequency and modality of prenatal visits should be utilized in forthcoming randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Such application will warrant that in future research, consistent reporting will enrich care and improve outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration number: 2021.

Preconception health indicators among adult US men: Race/ethnicity variations and temporal trends.

BACKGROUND: Preconception health is important for men as it is for women. However, optimizing preconception health is understudied among men. OBJECTIVES: To examine the time trends and temporal shifts in preconception health risk indicators among 20-44-year-old adult US men in need of preconception care and their racial/ethnic variations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the 2011-2019 National Survey of Family Growth male file was used to estimate the prevalence of nine preconception health indicators among men (20-44 years) intending to have a future pregnancy (n = 6813), stratifying by race/ethnicity, and assessing temporal changes across the study period. Binary logit and linear regression models estimated temporal trends from 2011-2013 to 2017-2019. Absolute and relative changes were estimated to detect temporal shifts in men's preconception health comparing 2011-2013 to 2017-2019. RESULTS: Men in all groups exhibited substantial preconception health needs, with unique trends across race/ethnicity groups. Between 2011 and 2019, the prevalence of marijuana use (28.6%-39.4%, p = 0.001), overweight/obese status (60.7%-65.1%, p ≤ 0.001), and the mean number of preconception health indicators (M = 2.69-2.84, p = 0.018) increased. Among non-Hispanic White men, the prevalence of marijuana use (30.1%-41.4%, p = 0.028), overweight/obese status (60.6%-63.7%, p = 0.002), and mean number of preconception health risk indicators (M = 2.74-2.90, p = 0.033) increased. Among Hispanic men, the prevalence of inconsistent/no condom use (68.9%-81.4%, p = 0.022), marijuana use (18.9%-40.4%, p = 0.001), and the mean number preconception health risk indicators (M = 2.50-2.96, p = 0.014) increased. Among non-Hispanic Black men, sexually transmitted infections declined (5.4%-3.6%, p = 0.002). Significant temporal shifts, which varied by race/ethnicity, were also observed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study, which provides initial insight into men's preconception health development in the last decade, highlights a tremendous need for preconception health care among men. Their increasing preconception health needs, and their racial/ethnic variations, suggest additional contributors to racial/ethnic differences in men's reproductive outcomes and their long-term health.

Expectant fathers' health behaviors, infant care intentions, and social-emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period: A latent class analysis and comparison to mothers.

While parental behaviors during the 'first thousand days' are critical for child health, little is known about fathers during this time. We examined prenatal patterns of health behaviors, social-emotional wellbeing, and infant care intentions among expectant fathers, both overall and compared to expectant mothers. Among 227 mother-father dyads enrolling in a randomized controlled trial of a perinatal obesity prevention program in Boston, Massachusetts (July 2020-July 2022), participants independently completed baseline surveys addressing (1) health behaviors, (2) social emotional wellbeing, and (3) infant care intentions. We compared paternal and maternal responses to survey items within each of these domains. Further, we conducted a latent class analysis of paternal responses and examined their associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Compared to expectant mothers, fathers were more likely to report increased body mass index, less fruit intake, decreased sleep, increased physical activity, and no recent primary care visit. Latent class analysis revealed four distinct groups of paternal health behaviors and infant care intentions: (1) more health behaviors with less infant care; (2) less health behaviors with less infant care; (3) less health behaviors with more infant care; and (4) more health behaviors with more infant care. Fathers with increased health behaviors were more likely to have higher education and income. Fathers with decreased health behaviors were more likely to endorse food insecurity, housing insecurity, and social isolation. Our findings identify potential areas for targeting expectant fathers in health promotion initiatives and suggest that social needs may impact the capacity to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Activating Life Course Theory through a Whole System Prevention Framework to Address the Wicked Problem of Maternal and Infant Morbidity and Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Racial/ethnic disparities in maternal and infant morbidity and mortality (MIM&M) is a wicked problem that is reinforced and perpetuated by our system[s] of care. Life Course Theory (LCT) helps to explain drivers of health disparities, but its application is challenged. An upstream approach that promotes systemic change requires the implementation of an expanded prevention framework that includes primordial and quaternary prevention. RESEARCH DESIGN: We developed an innovative expanded Whole System Prevention Framework (WSPF) that incorporates LCT, prevention (including primordial and quaternary prevention) and systems thinking. STUDY SAMPLE: We implemented this new conceptual Framework with two Healthy Start community partnerships through training, service mapping, and strategic planning to address upstream drivers of MIM&M. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Service mapping revealed few Healthy Start upstream activities/services with the predominance being delivered downstream at the program (microsystem) level. RESULTS: Service mapping provided a snapshot of the current service distribution of services across the systems. The preponderance were primary, secondary and tertiary prevention activities (75.5% and 65.6%) delivered at the program level (58.2% and 68%), revealing opportunities for upstream strategies to promote equity. The implementation process provided a new way to frame strategic planning and develop upstream strategies to promote health equity and reduce MIM&M. CONCLUSION: The Whole System Prevention Framework and its implementation methodology could be applied to address other wicked problems.

Frequency of Prenatal Care Visits: Protocol to Develop a Core Outcome Set for Prenatal Care Schedules.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal care, one of the most common preventive care services in the United States, endeavors to improve pregnancy outcomes through evidence-based screenings and interventions. Despite the prevalence of prenatal care and its importance to maternal and infant health, there are several debates about the best methods of prenatal care delivery, including the most appropriate schedule frequency and content of prenatal visits. Current US national guidelines recommend that low-risk individuals receive a standard schedule of 12 to 14 in-office visits, a care delivery model that has remained unchanged for almost a century. OBJECTIVE: In early 2020, to mitigate individuals' exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, prenatal care providers implemented new paradigms that altered the schedule frequency, interval, and modality (eg, telemedicine) of how prenatal care services were offered. In this paper, we describe the development of a core outcome set (COS) that can be used to evaluate the effect of the frequency of prenatal care schedules on maternal and infant outcomes. METHODS: We will systematically review the literature to identify previously reported outcomes important to individuals who receive prenatal care and the people who care for them. Stakeholders with expertise in prenatal care delivery (ie, patients or family members, health care providers, and public health professionals and policy makers) will rate the importance of identified outcomes in a web-based survey using a 3-round Delphi process. A digital consensus meeting will be held for a group of stakeholder representatives to discuss and vote on the outcomes to include in the final COS. RESULTS: The Delphi survey was initiated in July 2022 with invited 71 stakeholders. A digital consensus conference was conducted on October 11, 2022. Data are currently under analysis with plans to submit them in a subsequent manuscript. CONCLUSIONS: More research about the optimal schedule frequency and modality for prenatal care delivery is needed. Standardizing outcomes that are measured and reported in evaluations of the recommended prenatal care schedules will assist evidence synthesis and results reported in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, this COS will expand the consistency and patient-centeredness of reported outcomes for various prenatal care delivery schedules and modalities, hopefully improving the overall efficacy of recommended care delivery for pregnant people and their families. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/43962.

Household food insecurity is associated with obesogenic health behaviours among a low-income cohort of pregnant women in Boston, MA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of household food insecurity with health and obesogenic behaviours among pregnant women enrolled in an obesity prevention programme in the greater Boston area. DESIGN: Cross-sectional evaluation. Data were collected from structured questionnaires that included a validated two-item screener to assess household food insecurity. We used separate multivariable linear and logistic regression models to quantify the association between household food insecurity and maternal health behaviours (daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food, physical activity, screen time, and sleep), mental health outcomes (depression and stress), hyperglycaemia status and gestational weight gain. SETTING: Three community health centres that primarily serve low-income and racial/ethnic minority patients in Revere, Chelsea and Dorchester, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 858 pregnant women participating in the First 1,000 Days program, a quasi-experimental trial. RESULTS: Approximately 21 % of women reported household food insecurity. In adjusted analysis, household food insecurity was associated with low fruit and vegetable intake (ß = -0·31 daily servings; 95 % CI -0·52, -0·10), more screen time (ß = 0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·61), less sleep (ß = -0·32 daily hours; 95 % CI -0·63, -0·01), and greater odds of current (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4·42; 95 % CI 2·33, 8·35) or past depression (AOR 3·01; 95 % CI 2·08, 4·35), and high stress (AOR 2·91; 95 % CI 1·98, 4·28). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample of mostly low-income, racial/ethnic minority pregnant women, household food insecurity was associated with mental health and behaviours known to increase the likelihood of obesity.

Voices of Fathers During Pregnancy: The MGH Prenatal Care Obstetrics Fatherhood Study Methods and Results.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the growing recognition of father's importance for early family health and well-being, there has been very limited attention to men's own experiences and developmental needs antenatally, and specifically during their partner's prenatal care (PNC) visits. This study explores the feasibility of capturing men's own voices; documents their antenatal experiences and needs; assesses their treatment by Obstetric staff; and enquires about additional paternal information and skills desired and how best to provide them. METHODS: All fathers accompanying their partners to PNC services during two weeks at Massachusetts General Hospital were invited to fill out an anonymous, 15-min, two-part, iPad survey. RESULTS: 430 fathers participated (85% of men approached). Fathers expressed high levels of joy and involvement with approaching fatherhood; but 55% also expressed substantial levels of stress, 26% acknowledged depressive symptoms, and 42% reported limited social support for becoming fathers. Substantial men's health needs were noted: 75% were overweight (including 24% obese); 36% lacked an annual physical; and 22% had unplanned pregnancies. Most men (85%) desired additional fathering skills. Fathers perceived being very positively treated by the Obstetric staff, though 33% were never asked any direct questions. Most fathers (68%) expressed a desire or openness for additional parenting information, across a wide range of reproductive health topics, and were very enthusiastic about antenatal fatherhood initiatives. CONCLUSION: PNC sites provide a valuable locus for ascertaining men's/fathers' voices and could be enhanced to address their extensive antenatal needs and foster earlier paternal involvement to improve infant, family, and men's own health.

Stakeholder engagement in developing a father-inclusive early life obesity prevention intervention: First Heroes.

BACKGROUND: Although paternal involvement in the perinatal period is associated with benefits for maternal-child health and reduced obesity risk, fathers are seldom included in perinatal or obesity prevention efforts. Engaging community leaders and fathers as stakeholders in intervention development is a critical step in designing a father-inclusive intervention that is efficacious and responsive to their needs. METHODS: We conducted a structured engagement study, including community stakeholder engagement and qualitative interviews with new fathers, to inform the development of a prospective randomized controlled trial that includes mothers and fathers as equal partners in infant obesity prevention. We interpreted stakeholder feedback through the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) framework. RESULTS: Between September 2019 and April 2020, we held a Community Engagement meeting, formed a Community Advisory Board, and conducted 16 qualitative interviews with new fathers. Stakeholder engagement revealed insights across CFIR domains including intervention characteristics (relative advantage, complexity, design quality & packaging), outer setting factors (cosmopolitanism and culture), individual characteristics (including self-efficacy, state of change, identification with the organization) and process (engagement and adaptation). Stakeholders discussed the diverse challenges and rewards of fatherhood, as well as the intrinsic paternal motivation to be a loving, supportive father and partner. Both community leaders and fathers emphasized the importance of tailoring program delivery and content to meet specific parental needs, including a focus on the social-emotional needs of new parents. CONCLUSIONS: A structured process of multidimensional stakeholder engagement was successful in improving the design of a father-inclusive perinatal obesity prevention interventions. Father engagement was instrumental in both reinforcing community ties and increasing our understanding of fathers' needs, resulting in improvements to program values, delivery strategies, personnel, and content. This study provides a practical approach for investigators looking to involve key stakeholders in the pre-implementation phase of intervention development. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04477577 . Registered 20 July 2020.

Pediatric Practice Transformation and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Use in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are recommended as highly effective for adolescents. Although the uptake of LARCs has increased, overall use remains low due to barriers for both providers and patients. We evaluate whether pediatric medical home transformation, including implant placement in pediatrics, may increase LARC use or decrease adolescent pregnancy rates. METHODS: Retrospective interrupted time-series analysis of adolescents ages 11 to 19 years at 2 pediatric practices in academically affiliated community health centers during 2005-2015. The intervention practice underwent medical home transformation including team-based care with family planning and health coaching, youth-friendly policies, and contraceptive implant placement. The control practice continued usual care. Differential changes in population event rates were evaluated using a segmented longitudinal regression model. RESULTS: The study population included 4946 adolescent females at the intervention practice and 1992 at the control practice. Following practice transformation, LARC use increased significantly more at the intervention practice compared to the control (1.73 versus 0.28 events per 1000 patients quarterly P = 0.004). Pregnancy rate declined at both practices without temporal correlation to the LARC intervention. During the medical home transformation period, the intervention practice showed a greater decline in pregnancy rate, though this difference did not reach statistical significance (2.01 versus 0.81 events per 1000 patients quarterly P = 0.090). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents had higher LARC use where implant placement was offered within the pediatric practice as part of medical home transformation. Although LARC did not impact pregnancy rate, the process of practice transformation may have accelerated its decline through heightened adolescent health focus.

Effects of the First 1000 Days Program, a systems-change intervention, on obesity risk factors during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: First 1000 Days is a systems-oriented program starting in early pregnancy lasting through the first 24 months of infancy focused on preventing obesity and related risk factors among low income, mother-infant pairs. The program was developed in partnership with stakeholders to create an infrastructure for system-wide change. It includes screening for adverse health behaviors and socio-contextual factors, patient navigation and educational materials to support behavior change and social needs, and individualized health coaching for women at highest risk of obesity and has been shown to reduce excess gestational weight gain for women who were overweight at the start of their pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine changes from the first to third trimester for women participating in the First 1000 Days Program. METHODS: We collected information through self-administered questionnaires during the first and third trimester of gestation and from electronic health records relating to obesity risk factors. Measures collected included behavior (i.e., diet, physical activity and screen time) and psychosocial (i.e., anxiety) outcomes, as well as enrollment in Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program. We examined the extent to which participation in the program was associated with changes in behaviors and psychosocial outcomes among women during pregnancy. RESULTS: Women completed surveys at their initial and third trimester prenatal visits (n = 264). Mean age (SD) was 30.2 (5.51) years and 75% had an annual household income of <$50,000. Mean pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was 27.7 kg/m2 and 64% started pregnancy with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. In multivariable adjusted models, we observed decreases in intake of sugary-drinks (- 0.95 servings/day; 95% CI: - 1.86, - 0.03) and in screen time (- 0.21 h/day; 95% CI: - 0.40, - 0.01), and an increase in physical activity (0.88 days/week; 95% CI: 0.52, 1.23) from the first to third trimester. We also observed a decrease in pregnancy-related anxiety score (- 1.06 units; 95% CI: - 1.32, - 0.79) and higher odds of enrollment in Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.96, 3.41). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a systems-oriented prenatal intervention may be associated with improvements in behaviors and psychosocial outcomes during pregnancy among low-income mothers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03191591 ; Retrospectively registered on June 19, 2017).

Twelve-Month Outcomes of the First 1000 Days Program on Infant Weight Status.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of the First 1000 Days intervention on the prevalence of infant overweight and maternal postpartum weight retention and care. METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design, we evaluated the effects of the First 1000 Days program among 995 term, low-income infants and their mothers receiving care in 2 intervention community health centers and 650 dyads in 2 comparison health centers. The program includes staff training, growth tracking, health and behavioral screening, patient navigation, text messaging, educational materials, and health coaching. Comparison centers implemented usual care. Infant outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months, including weight-for-length z score and overweight (weight for length ≥97.7th percentile). We also examined maternal weight retention and receipt of care 6 weeks' post partum. RESULTS: The mean birth weight was 3.34 kg (SD 0.45); 57% of infants were Hispanic; 66% were publicly insured. At 6 months, infants had lower weight-for-length z scores (ß: -.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -.39 to -.15) and lower odds of overweight (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.76) than infants in comparison sites; differences persisted at 12 months (z score ß: -.18; 95% CI: -.30 to -.07; adjusted OR for overweight: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.92). Mothers in the intervention sites had modestly lower, but nonsignificant, weight retention at 6 weeks' post partum (ß: -.51 kg; 95% CI: -1.15 to .13) and had higher odds (adjusted OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.94) of completing their postpartum visit compared with mothers in the comparison sites. CONCLUSIONS: An early-life systems-change intervention combined with coaching was associated with improved infant weight status and maternal postpartum care.

Engaging fathers in the first 1000 days to improve perinatal outcomes and prevent obesity: Rationale and design of the First Heroes randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Early pregnancy through the first year of life represents an important period for family health promotion and obesity prevention. Overall, preventive interventions in pregnancy and infancy have insufficiently engaged fathers. We describe the rationale and design of First Heroes, an intervention to improve perinatal and obesity-related outcomes among mother-father-infant triads beginning in pregnancy. METHODS/DESIGN: First Heroes is a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized trial of mother-father-infant triads recruited in the second trimester of pregnancy from a large Obstetric practice in eastern Massachusetts and continuing through 12 months of infant age. Triads are randomized to the intervention arm or to an enhanced safety education control group. Triads randomized to the intervention arm receive three virtual visits with a health educator, in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, at 3-4 weeks, and 3-4 months postpartum, and receive continuous multimedia education through text messaging, print material, and videos. The educational curriculum addresses parent health behaviors, family relationships, social determinants of health, and infant feeding, sleep, and development. The primary outcome is prevalence of rapid infant weight gain from birth to 6 months of age. Secondary outcomes include parent anthropometrics, parent obesogenic behaviors, family functioning, and infant behaviors. DISCUSSION: First Heroes will evaluate the extent to which intentional mother-father dyad engagement, coaching on adoption of early life health behaviors, and addressing social determinants of health, influence obesogenic behaviors and outcomes in the first year of life. Findings from this work will inform future obesity prevention efforts, especially those focused on whole family inclusion.

Expectant Fathers' Social Determinants of Health in Early Pregnancy.

This cross-sectional, descriptive study examined unmet social and economic needs and health information requests of low-income, expecting fathers who participated in the First 1000 Days program. The First 1000 Days is a systems-level intervention aiming to prevent obesity among low-income mothers and infants across 3 community health centers in Greater Boston, MA, USA. Fathers who attended their partner's first prenatal care visit were invited to complete a program survey during early pregnancy. Among 131 fathers surveyed, 45% were white, 21% were Hispanic/Latino, 55% were foreign-born, and 69% reported an annual income under $50 000. Fathers reported elevated levels of food insecurity (18%) and 33% were unaware of someone that could provide a $50 loan; however, over 85% of fathers knew someone that could provide non-financial social support. Fathers requested information about pregnancy, birth preparation, and fatherhood. Findings support addressing fathers' unmet needs during pregnancy and providing father-specific perinatal information.

Regional variation in Black infant mortality: The contribution of contextual factors.

BACKGROUND: Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, infant mortality rates (IMR) are persistently highestamong Black infants in the United States, yet there is considerable regional variation. We examined state and county-level contextual factors that may explain regional differences in Black IMR and identified potential strategies for improvement. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Black infant mortality data are from the Linked Birth/Infant Death files for 2009-2011. State and county contextual factors within social, economic, environmental, and health domains were compiled from various Census databases, the Food Environment Atlas, and the Area Health Resource File. Region was defined by the nine Census Divisions. We examined contextual associations with Black IMR using aggregated county-level Poisson regression with standard errors adjusted for clustering by state. Overall, Black IMR varied 1.5-fold across regions, ranging from 8.78 per 1,000 in New England to 13.77 per 1,000 in the Midwest. In adjusted models, the following factors were protective for Black IMR: higher state-level Black-White marriage rate (rate ratio (RR) per standard deviation (SD) increase = 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.70-0.95), higher state maternal and child health budget per capita (RR per SD = 0.96, 95% CI:0.92-0.99), and higher county-level Black index of concentration at the extremes (RR per SD = 0.85, 95% CI:0.81-0.90). Modeled variables accounted for 35% of the regional variation in Black IMR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are broadly supportive of ongoing public policy efforts to enhance social integration across races, support health and social welfare program spending, and improve economic prosperity. Although contextual factors accounted for about a third of regional variation, further research is needed to more fully understand regional variation in Black IMR disparities.

Association of the First 1,000 Days Systems-Change Intervention on Maternal Gestational Weight Gain.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of a clinical and public health systems-change intervention on the prevalence of excess gestational weight gain among high-risk, low-income women. METHODS: In a quasi-experimental trial, we compared the prevalence of excess gestational weight gain among women before (n=643) and after (n=928) implementation of the First 1,000 Days program in two community health centers in Massachusetts. First 1,000 Days is a systematic program starting in early pregnancy and lasting through the first 24 months of childhood to prevent obesity among mother-child pairs. The program includes enhanced gestational weight gain tracking and counseling, screening for adverse health behaviors and sociocontextual factors, patient navigation and educational materials to support behavior change and social needs, and individualized health coaching for women at high risk for excess gestational weight gain based on their prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) or excess first-trimester weight gain. The primary outcome was gestational weight gain greater than the 2009 Institute of Medicine (now known as the National Academy of Medicine) guidelines according to prepregnancy BMI. RESULTS: Among 1,571 women in the analytic sample, mean (SD) age was 30.0 (5.9) years and prepregnancy BMI was 28.1 (6.1); 65.8% of women started pregnancy with BMIs of 25 or higher, and 53.2% were Hispanic. We observed a lower prevalence (55.8-46.4%; unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.97), similar to results in a multivariable analysis (adjusted OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.99), of excess gestational weight gain among women with prepregnancy BMIs between 25 and 29.9. Among women who were overweight at the start of pregnancy, the lowest odds of excess gestational weight gain were observed among those with the most interaction with the program's components. Program enrollment was not associated with reduced excess gestational weight gain among women with prepregnancy BMIs of 30 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a systems-change intervention was associated with modest reduction in excess gestational weight gain among women who were overweight but not obese at the start of pregnancy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03191591.

Early Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children Born to Fertile, Subfertile, and ART-Treated Women.

INTRODUCTION: We examined the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in Massachusetts (MA) comparing children born via assisted reproductive technology (ART) and children born to women with indicators of subfertility but no ART (Subfertile), to children born to women with neither ART nor indicators of subfertility (Fertile). We assessed the direct, indirect, and total effects of ART and subfertility on ASD among singletons. METHODS: This study included 10,147 ART, 8072 Subfertile and 441,898 Fertile MA resident births from the MA Outcome Study of ART (MOSART) database linked with Early Intervention program participation data. ART included fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF), fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and frozen embryo transfer. We estimated the prevalence of ASD by fertility group. We used logistic regression to assess the natural direct effect (NDE), natural indirect effect (NIE) through preterm birth, and total effects of each fertility group on ASD. RESULTS: The NDE indicated that, compared to the Fertile group, the odds of ASD were not statistically higher in the ART (ORNDE 1.07; 95% CI 0.88-1.30), Subfertile (ORNDE 1.11; 95% CI 0.89-1.38), IVF (ORNDE 0.91; 95% CI 0.68-1.22), or ICSI (ORNDE 1.13; 95% CI 0.84-1.51) groups, even if the rate of preterm birth was the same across all groups. The total effect (product of NDE and NIE) was not significant for ART (ORTotal Effect 1.08; 95% CI 0.89-1.30), Subfertile (ORTotal Effect 1.11; 95% CI 0.89-1.38), IVF (ORTotal Effect 0.92; 95% CI 0.69-1.23), or ICSI (ORTotal Effect 1.13; 95% CI 0.84-1.52). CONCLUSION: Compared to children born to Fertile women, children born to ART, ICSI, or IVF, or Subfertile women are not at increased risk of receiving an ASD diagnosis.

Engaging Fathers in Early Obesity Prevention During the First 1,000 Days: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Fathers are critical stakeholders in childhood obesity prevention but are difficult to engage. This review presents a new approach to engaging fathers in obesity prevention during the first 1,000 days. METHODS: The review focuses on five existing health and social service programs, including prenatal care, pediatric care, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, home visiting, and Early Head Start. For each program, the obesity prevention services provided, evidence of father engagement, and barriers thereto are outlined. Subsequently, policy, systems, and environmental strategies are outlined to address the noted barriers and promote father engagement. RESULTS: Although the programs hold great promise in bringing obesity prevention services to fathers, barriers to their engagement are present in the inner (e.g., limited hours of operation, lack of father-specific materials and programming) and outer (e.g., lack of model programs, best practice models, and consistent funding) settings of programs. Policy, systems, and environmental strategies to increase father engagement focus on earmarked funding, changes to national practice guidelines and practitioner training requirements, and the establishment of father-engagement performance metrics. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing father involvement in the specified programs will likely increase their engagement in early obesity prevention in an efficient and sustainable manner.

Associations Between Early Intervention Home Visits, Family Relationships and Competence for Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities.

Objectives To examine the association between intensity of home visits in early intervention (EI), perceived helpfulness of home visits in EI, and positive family relationships as predictors of maternal competence at age 3, as well as moderating effects of predictors, controlling for child characteristics, family demographics, and negative life events. Methods Data were drawn from the Early Intervention Collaborative Study (EICS), a 24-year longitudinal investigation of approximately 190 families of children with developmental disabilities who participated in EI programs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The primary analytic strategy was multivariable regression modeling. Each independent predictor was tested individually and then all together to build the final model. Interactions between independent predictors were also examined. Results After controlling for child and family characteristics and negative life events, the intensity of home visits was not significantly associated with maternal competence at age 3. However, the helpfulness of home visits (ß = 2.94, S.E. = 1.12, p < .01) and positive family relationships (ß = 5.11, S.E. = 1.08, p < .001) were associated with higher maternal competence when the child was 3 years old. Conclusions for Practice Recommendations for programs and policy include collecting life course data on families, particularly on their family relationships and experiences in EI and home visiting, assessing family relationships at the beginning of EI using a strengths-based perspective, and closely monitoring the quality of services.

A Position Statement on Population Data Science: The Science of Data about People.

Information is increasingly digital, creating opportunities to respond to pressing issues about human populations using linked datasets that are large, complex, and diverse. The potential social and individual benefits that can come from data-intensive science are large, but raise challenges of balancing individual privacy and the public good, building appropriate socio-technical systems to support data-intensive science, and determining whether defining a new field of inquiry might help move those collective interests and activities forward. A combination of expert engagement, literature review, and iterative conversations led to our conclusion that defining the field of Population Data Science (challenge 3) will help address the other two challenges as well. We define Population Data Science succinctly as the science of data about people and note that it is related to but distinct from the fields of data science and informatics. A broader definition names four characteristics of: data use for positive impact on citizens and society; bringing together and analyzing data from multiple sources; finding population-level insights; and developing safe, privacy-sensitive and ethical infrastructure to support research. One implication of these characteristics is that few people possess all of the requisite knowledge and skills of Population Data Science, so this is by nature a multi-disciplinary field. Other implications include the need to advance various aspects of science, such as data linkage technology, various forms of analytics, and methods of public engagement. These implications are the beginnings of a research agenda for Population Data Science, which if approached as a collective field, can catalyze significant advances in our understanding of trends in society, health, and human behavior.