Healthy pregnancy, positive birth outcomes, and safety and security post-pregnancy is important for families and communities alike
Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and child health go hand in hand, and the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University is actively invested in improving health outcomes for both.
Among wealthy nations, the United States lags with regard to maternal mortality rates (22 deaths per 100,000 live births), and in the state of Louisiana the numbers are even worse (39 deaths per 100,000 births). For Black mothers, that number surges to 50 deaths per 100,000 births.
Healthy pregnancy, positive birth outcomes, and safety and security post-pregnancy is important for families and communities alike.
At Tulane, the Mary Amelia Center for Women's Health Equity Research (MAC) aims to identify and address indicators for poor pregnancy outcomes. The center takes an innovative, multi-level approach in its interdisciplinary research that identifies and disrupts barriers to knowledge, opportunity, and health for women -- further translating its research into action through training and advocacy.
The Tulane Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (CEMCH) also takes an action-oriented approach, providing professional development opportunities for future and current maternal and child health practitioners.
Lastly, a holistic approach to mother and child health requires addressing violence in the home, as that is one of the biggest correlations to poor health outcomes for both. The Violence Prevention Institute takes the same approach -- identifying problems and attempting to take actions to help solve them -- by supporting communities in addressing systemic, structural, and interpersonal violence.
Mary Amelia Center for Women's Health Equity Research: Collective Impact Efforts in the Gulf South
The Mary Amelia Center for Women’s Health Equity Research (MAC) advances women’s health and well-being by addressing the systems, policies, and environments that shape health across the lifespan.
From families to communities, Tulane program builds global collaborations
Last fall, Tulane University hosted Dr. Aleksandar Stevanovic, a professional fellow from the University of Belgrade’s Institute of Social Medicine, as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program (PFP). During his month-long fellowship, Stevanovic worked closely with the Mary Amelia Center for Women's Health Equity Research (MAC) under the supervision of Kelli Stidham Hall, MAC co-director and the school's associate dean of research. Stevanovic contributed his public health background and research expertise while building meaningful professional relationships across campus and the broader New Orleans community.
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Academic Opportunities in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences
The MPH in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences program has a strong emphasis on social determinants of health and multi-level models of health promotion. In addition, students have the option to tailor their courses to an area of interest in social, behavioral, and population health; for example, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, health communication, nutrition, health equity, or violence.
Check out related public health topics.