Augustana’s Center for the Advancement of Community Health and Wellness (CACHW) is conducting research on recently pregnant individuals in the Quad Cities area, surveying women aged 18-45 who have been pregnant within the last two years or used local health care services during pregnancy.
The college has partnered with local groups such as the Quad City Health Initiative (QCHI), Heart of Hope and the Healthy Pregnancy Coalition. CACHW was founded in 2022 and is led by Professor of Biology Kimberly Murphy.
Murphy said the survey is collecting statistical and demographic data about differences in maternal health outcomes, with a goal to help researchers understand what kinds of challenges people face in accessing maternal healthcare and identify ways to help. She said the CACHW started collecting results in January and work is currently ongoing.
“The survey aims to capture the voices of individuals with recent lived pregnancy experiences in the QCA,” Murphy said. “These surveys are crucial for understanding the experiences and needs of women and improving maternal health outcomes in the QCA.”
Last fall, the project received approval from Augustana’s Institutional Review Board, and Murphy said the CACHW plans to collect responses through May. She said the team was initially aiming for 100 responses, but have since surpassed their goal and are trying to obtain a larger sample.
The research team has already analyzed 140 of the survey responses Murphy said and will conduct a second analysis once more responses are received.
The survey was developed in collaboration between Murphy and Augustana students, inspired by research previously done with CACHW’s local partners, such as the QCHI. QCHI is a community partnership organization based in Davenport, IA that aims to promote community health.
Executive Director of the QCHI Nicole Carkner said their organization has helped promote the survey through a partnership with the Low Birth Weight Task Force. She said that the task force is primarily interested in understanding what causes differences in birth weights across the birthing population.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the results of the study and how it will add to our understanding of the opportunities to promote healthy births,” Carkner said.
Throughout the research process, Carkner said students have “taken the lead in surveying and interviewing recently pregnant individuals.” Murphy said some of the students involved are Americus Mahatshahi and Selgie Okine who first came up with the idea of the survey, after conducting interviews with communities concerned about maternal health.
Murphy said students have been involved in “every single step” of the process and are able to apply class content while developing their communication and critical thinking skills. CACHW Sustainability Interface Manager Peyton Heisch and Paige Rogde are also assisting in research, she said.
“The students involved in the project are proud to be involved in this community-based project,” Murphy said. “They have the opportunity to truly make an impact on our local community and they gain and improve on skills that will be beneficial for their futures.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the Quad City Health Initiative as a non-profit instead of a community partnership organization, and mislabeled the Low Birth Weight Task Force as the Low Birth Rate Task Force.
