Versailles, Ky, May 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frontier Nursing University (FNU) and the Campion Fund announced plans for a conference focused on the nation’s maternal mortality crisis. “Reducing Maternal Mortality: Strategies That Work!” will be held on Thursday, September 19, on the FNU campus in Versailles, Kentucky. Capacity is limited to 100 spots for the in-person conference, with an additional 300 spots available for online attendees.
This research-oriented conference focuses on identifying and describing programs and practices that successfully reduce maternal mortality rates, essential for improving maternal health in the United States. According to 2022 data from the CDC, more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. from 2017-2019 were preventable by improving health care practices.
“Maternal mortality is a critical public health issue, but there are effective ways to address this crisis,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “This conference aims to identify and describe programs and practices that have successfully reduced maternal mortality rates.”
Maternal mortality rates are alarmingly high for all women, with non-Hispanic Black women experiencing maternal mortality at more than 2.5 times the rate of white women. Contributing factors include limited access to care, insufficient financial resources and insurance, racial discrimination, cultural insensitivity, undocumented status, chronic medical conditions, mental health issues, pregnancy complications, addiction, restrictive laws, and partner abuse and violence.
“This conference must examine all sides of maternal mortality because this complex issue is a result of many contributing factors,” Dr. Stone said. “By bringing together interdisciplinary leaders in this field, we will accelerate the process of addressing the root causes of maternal mortality in the U.S.”
In addition to featured keynote speakers, who will be announced at a later date, FNU is also calling for abstracts and poster presentations. Abstracts for 15-minute oral and poster presentations will be showcased at the conference. Presenters are required to be onsite. The abstract should be 500 words or less, clearly describing the program, including interventions, geographic areas, populations served, program duration, types of providers, number of individuals served, and outcome measurements. Abstracts should specify the number of individuals who completed the program and their responses to interventions. Abstracts should also highlight accomplishments, impact assessments, future plans, and how the program contributes to reducing maternal mortality. All proposals for abstracts or posters should be submitted online at frontier.edu/maternal-mortality-conference by May 31. A $500 honorarium will be offered to those selected for oral presentations.
Registration for the conference is also available at frontier.edu/maternal-mortality-conference. Registration to attend in person is $149 (includes lodging and meals) or $79 (includes meals only). Virtual participation is $49. Any current student attending a higher education institution may attend the conference at no cost.
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About Frontier Nursing University:
The mission of Frontier Nursing University is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the student’s home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Post-Graduate Certificates. Frontier has been named a “Great College to Work For” by the Great Colleges to Work For® program for each of the past three years (2021-2023). To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.
