UAMS to address maternal mortality in Union, Ashley counties with $4M grant – El Dorado News-Times

Report on the HEART Moms Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been awarded a federal grant of nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will fund the HEART Moms initiative, a program designed to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in the rural, medically underserved regions of Ashley and Union counties. This report outlines the project’s objectives and strategies, with a significant emphasis on its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Addressing Systemic Health Disparities through the SDG Framework

Targeting Health, Well-being, and Inequality (SDG 3 & SDG 10)

The initiative directly confronts the critical health challenges in Arkansas, a state with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. The project’s focus on rural and impoverished counties addresses urgent gaps in obstetric care created by hospital closures, provider shortages, and long travel distances. This targeted approach is a direct effort to advance several key SDG targets:

• SDG Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio. The primary goal of the HEART Moms program is to lower the high rates of maternity-associated health problems and deaths in the target region.
• SDG Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. The program will standardize screening for high-risk conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, which are major contributors to pregnancy complications.
• SDG Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. By bringing comprehensive care to geographically isolated and economically disadvantaged women, the initiative works to reduce health inequalities.

Fostering Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration (SDG 17)

The HEART Moms initiative exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 by establishing a robust, multi-stakeholder network. This collaboration is crucial for creating a sustainable maternal health system that extends beyond the grant period. The network is a partnership designed to elevate care, inform policy, and strengthen communities. Key partners include:

• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
• South Arkansas Women’s Health Clinic
• UAMS Family Medicine Clinic in El Dorado
• South Arkansas Regional Hospital
• Ashley County Medical Center
• Arkansas Department of Health
• Arkansas Department of Human Services, Medicaid Division

Strategic Interventions for Sustainable Maternal Health

Core Objectives of the HEART Moms Program

The program will implement a combination of mobile health, digital health, and workforce development strategies. These interventions are designed to be replicable in other rural areas and are intrinsically linked to achieving the SDGs. The specific objectives are as follows:

1. Increase Access to Services: Deploy mobile maternal health clinics to rotate between counties, directly reducing geographic and transportation barriers in alignment with SDG 3 and SDG 10.
2. Enhance Prenatal Education and Support: Establish group prenatal care at partner sites to improve health outcomes and provide peer support, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
3. Strengthen the Healthcare Workforce: Embed a full-time obstetrics fellow in the region to provide direct care and support rural providers, thereby strengthening the local health system as per SDG 3.
4. Improve Risk Identification and Management: Standardize maternal risk screening for physical and behavioral health conditions and integrate follow-up care through home and virtual visits.
5. Expand Digital Health Infrastructure: Leverage digital health platforms for local obstetric emergency preparedness and to expand access to mental health treatment, supporting innovation in healthcare delivery.
6. Develop Community-Based Support: Train community health workers and mental health therapists to provide culturally responsive outreach, screen for social determinants of health, and assist with patient navigation.
7. Establish a Sustainable Health Network: Create a regionally coordinated maternal health network with robust governance, a clear referral infrastructure, and payment strategies aligned with Medicaid to ensure long-term viability, fulfilling the vision of SDG 17.

Following a planning phase in late 2025, the project is scheduled to commence implementation in 2026, marking a significant step toward achieving equitable and sustainable maternal health outcomes in Arkansas.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is improving maternal health, reducing mortality, and increasing access to healthcare services for pregnant women in rural Arkansas.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program specifically targets rural, impoverished, and medically underserved areas to close the gap in healthcare access and outcomes compared to more privileged regions.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the creation of a collaborative network involving a university, hospitals, clinics, and state government agencies to achieve the project’s goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio.
  
  The article directly addresses this target by aiming to reduce “maternity-associated health problems and deaths” in Arkansas, a state with one of the “highest maternal mortality rates in the United States.” The entire HEART Moms program is designed to combat this issue.
• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
  
  The initiative plans to standardize “maternal risk screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and behavioral health that increase risks to pregnancy” and expand access to “mental health treatment.” This directly aligns with preventing mortality from non-communicable diseases and promoting mental health.
• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services.
  
  The program’s goal is to “ensure that every woman in Arkansas can access the best maternal care, regardless of her geographic location.” It seeks to increase access to essential services by deploying mobile clinics, establishing group prenatal care, and using digital health, which are all steps toward universal health coverage for this specific population.
• Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce.
  
  The article mentions a “shortage of providers” as a key problem. The program addresses this by embedding “a second full-time obstetrics fellow in the area to provide direct care” and by “training community health workers and mental health therapists.”
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.
  
  The program focuses on “rural and medically underserved areas” and “impoverished” populations. By bringing comprehensive care “closer to home” and reducing geographic and transportation barriers, it works to reduce the health inequalities faced by these women due to their location and economic status.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
  
  The article explicitly describes the formation of a “network” for the HEART Moms program. This partnership includes UAMS (a public university), private clinics and hospitals (South Arkansas Women’s Health Clinic, South Arkansas Regional Hospital, Ashley County Medical Center), and public state agencies (Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Medicaid Division).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Maternal Mortality Rate (Implied for Target 3.1):
  
  The article states that Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates. A primary indicator of the program’s success would be a measurable reduction in this rate within Ashley and Union counties.
• Rates of Maternal Health Problems (Implied for Target 3.1):
  
  The project aims to reduce “maternity-associated health problems.” Progress could be measured by tracking the incidence of specific pregnancy-related complications in the target population.
• Number of Women Screened for Health Risks (Implied for Target 3.4):
  
  The plan to standardize “maternal risk screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and behavioral health” implies that the number of women receiving these screenings would be a key performance indicator.
• Access to and Utilization of Services (Implied for Target 3.8):
  
  Progress can be measured by tracking the number of women who use the new services, such as those served by the “mobile maternal health clinics,” participants in “group prenatal care,” and users of “digital health” services for mental health and emergency preparedness.
• Increase in Health Workforce (Implied for Target 3.c):
  
  The article mentions specific workforce enhancements. Indicators would include the number of new obstetrics fellows placed in the area and the number of “community health workers and mental health therapists” trained and deployed by the program.
• Establishment of a Coordinated Network (Implied for Target 17.17):
  
  A key outcome is the establishment of a “sustainable, regionally coordinated maternal health network with robust governance, a referral infrastructure and Medicaid-aligned payment strategies.” The successful formation and functioning of this network, as described in the article, serves as an indicator of a successful partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: eldoradonews.com