Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Investigate Meaningful Prenatal Care Among African American Women.

Purpose: In the United States, African American babies die more than twice as often as White babies. The cause for this difference remains elusive, yet is likely complex with one factor being inadequate cultural care of pregnant African American women. The purpose of this study was to explore African American women's perspectives of meaningful prenatal care.

Innovative uses of technology in online midwifery education.

Women's health care in the United States is at a critical juncture. There is increased demand for primary care providers, including women's health specialists such as certified nurse-midwives/certified midwives, women's health nurse practitioners, and obstetrician-gynecologists, yet shortages in numbers of these providers are expected. This deficit in the number of women's health care providers could have adverse consequences for women and their newborns when women have to travel long distances to access maternity health care.

Nurse-midwifery: art and science.

The gap in the health of the nations' people seems to be widening and reflects existing social inequalities affecting the ongoing health of individuals. From a historical and practical perspective, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are one group of advanced practice registered nurses uniquely situated to address existing disparities related to maternal-child health. This article provides an overview of the historical development, current status, and use of CNMs in the United States health care system; the impact of CNMs on maternal-child health outcomes; and future trends in the education of CNMs.