Evaluating the Health Outcomes of the Healthy Women Healthy Babies Program in Delaware.

Objectives: The Delaware Healthy Women Healthy Babies Program (HWHB) was developed in response to increasing rates of infant mortality (IMR) and widening racial disparity. The primary aim of this study was to examine birth outcomes of enrolled and non-enrolled black and Hispanic women in the program whose payer was Medicaid.

Methods: We utilized a retrospective cohort of linked birth certificate and HWHB program participant data during 2011-2015.

Increased cesarean section rate over time (1994-2006) in Delaware is not associated with improved outcomes in very low birth weight infants.

Cesarean deliveries (C-section) have been increasing over time. The objectives of this study were to analyze cesarean section delivery rates over time, and determine whether there is an association between C-section, mortality, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in VLBW infants. We performed a retrospective cohort study of babies with birth weight < 1,500 grams, between 1994 and 2006, at Christiana Hospital (n = 2,040).