This project was the Final Deliverable for my Health Policy Research & Analysis course. This group project focused on addressing California's maternal health crisis.
Our group specifically focused on addressing cesarean section (C-section) rates across various racial groups and the possible social factors that contributed to them.
Research Outcome: Our group identified social determinants and structural barriers impacting maternal health disparities among African American, AI/AN, and A/PI women during pregnancy, and developed four policy recommendations to reduce C-section rates within these groups.
Project Prompt: Each student is assigned to a Task Force to provide a memo outlining key elements of the state’s maternal plan, following Bardach’s Eightfold Path Framework. Each Task Force is expected to articulate a specific issue within the broad realm of maternal health, provide a compelling rationale (with evidence) for why that concern should be of high priority for health equity in the state, construct a set of actionable policy options to address the stated problem, and advocate for a specific policy intervention or a combination of relevant policy interventions to be included in the state’s plan.
Team: Riana Tadeo (Team Co-Lead), Geralidine Medina (Team Co-Lead), Sophia Godleski, Merwaa Khwaja, Marien-Khate Estrada, Angela Ayubyar
Project Duration: 13 weeks
Tools: Google Docs, Google Slide, Policy Map
Skills: teamwork, project management, policy research & analysis, critical thinking, problem solving
In Week 7, a root cause analysis map was drafted based on previous and new research collected on possible root causes and their outcomes/consequences related to C-sections.
In Week 11, we were tasked in developing possible policy recommendation solutions to address our project focus problem. During this time, I had the opportunity to attend APHA's 2023 Conference in Atlanta, GA. This trip proved to be instrumental in shaping two out of our four policy recommendations. Below is a poster I came across while attending a poster session. It showcased Blue Shield of California's Doula Pilot Program that showed to successfully lower C-section rates specifically among African American women (one of our populations of focus).
Slide deck presentation summarizing our 13-page Health Policy Memo. Our findings and recommendations were presented to our class at the end of the term. I fully developed and wrote Solution 1, Equalization of C-section and Vaginal Delivery Reimbursement Rates, and co-wrote Solution 2, Expansion of Medi-Cal Midwife and Doula Services.
Framer 2024
Riana Tadeo