title: Public health approaches to community-based needs. Boston's infant mortality crisis as a case study.
abstract: In light of a 10-year infant mortality crisis in Boston, a comprehensive public health approach was undertaken in which an extensive community-based needs assessment was used to develop a citywide maternal and child health improvement agenda. On the basis of the needs assessment, recommendations were made calling for community-based perinatal initiatives and midwifery services as critical elements in care for underserved communities and enhancement of perinatal services. A case description of one perinatal initiative illustrates the challenges of public health practice and describes a practice setting in which midwives provided leadership and guidance by using an interdisciplinary team approach in the implementation of a community empowerment project.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Boston University School of Public Health, MA 02118-2326, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rorie
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002662:Child Health Services; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy