Publications by authors named "LeAnn Louis"

Background: Rates of maternal mortality are highest in low-resource settings. Family members are often involved in the critical periods surrounding a maternal death, including transportation to health centers and financial and emotional support during hospital admissions. Maternal death has devastating impacts on surviving family members, which are often overlooked and understudied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective:  This study aimed to assess the impact of implementation of an induction of labor (IOL) guideline on IOL length and utilization of evidence-based practices.

Study Design:  We conducted a quality improvement project to increase utilization of three evidence-based IOL practices: combined agent ripening, vaginal misoprostol, and early amniotomy. Singletons with intact membranes and cervical dilation ≤2 cm admitted for IOL were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has magnified disparities in care, including within reproductive health. There has been limited research on the implications of the financial calamity COVID-19 has precipitated on reproductive health, including restricted access to contraception and prenatal care, as well as adverse perinatal outcomes resulting from economic contracture. We therefore examined the Great Recession (the period of economic downturn from 2007-2009 also referred to as the 2008 recession) to discuss how the current financial difficulties may influence reproductive health now and in the years to come.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Low literacy levels in Black women with HIV (WWH) have been shown to amplify pre-existing health disparities and sequelae of non-adherence to health-related guidance. Wisdom Matters is a community-based participatory research program with an aim of improving health literacy in populations of Black WWH and assessing the existing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs surrounding HIV care delivery and psychosocial barriers in these populations. Our research was conducted in Boston, MA, where 17 Black WWH were recruited to complete a 6-week curriculum designed to provide a thorough and cohesive path to empowerment, both individually and collectively, pertaining to living with HIV.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF