From theory to measurement: Proposed state maternal and child health life course measures - ONLINE

Website/URL: https://apha.confex.com/apha/1...apt/Paper277535.html

Organized By: American Public Health Association

Contact Info: 202-777-APHA

Life course is a theoretical model that takes into consideration the full spectrum of factors that positively and negatively affect an individual's health throughout all stages of life. Currently, there are no standardized life course metrics to determine the success of public health programming guided by a life course model. In May 2012, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs initiated a project to develop recommended indicators for use at a state and community level to assess, monitor, and evaluate life course health. Teams of program leaders, epidemiologists, and academicians from seven states proposed life course indicators for consideration. Each indicator was assessed for five life course principles: equity, systems realignment, impact, intergenerational wellness, and life course evidence. Indicators were also evaluated for three data criteria: quality, availability, and simplicity. More than 400 indicators were initially proposed; 108 were selected for full assessment and review, and a final subset will be selected as life course indicators by June 2013. Indicators span many influences of life course health, including adverse childhood experiences, reproductive life experiences, health-care access and quality, mental health, discrimination and segregation, community health policy, economic experiences, social cohesion, and public health systems capacity. Life course indicators represent a critical step toward the translation of the life course perspective from theory to implementation. State and community maternal and child health programs are actively implementing programs and policy changes guided by the life course framework, and initial measures are needed to guide and determine the success of these approaches.