Women & Children Services

Improved Access to Care Program

Of the nearly four million babies born in this country in 1987, roughly 10 percent were born prematurely, 7 percent with low birthweight (less than 5.5 pounds) and 7 percent with birth defects. These babies may die or face serious health problems, not just at birth. but for a lifetime. Nearly 40,000 babies die each year in the United States. That is about 10.1 babies for every 1,000 live births. Within the black population, the infant death rate is almost twice the national average: 17.9 babies die for every 1,000 live births. Low birthweight is associated with 60 percent of infant deaths. The single most important factor in preventing low birthweight is early and regular prenatal care. Women at high risk of having a low-birthweight baby can be identified on the first prenatal visit and then steps can be taken to increase the likelihood of having a normal-weight baby.

The Improved Access to Care Program is a cooperative effort of Sega Foundation and The Alameda County Health System. Through its campaign for healthier infants and children, the Sega Foundation seeks to improve the access to care by providing funding for incentives and transportation assistance. The Improved Access to Care incentive program is designed to increase the utilization of maternal and infant health care services among the “high risk” populations of minority and young teen women and their children who get inadequate and/or inconsistent health care. As a result, these groups have high rates of low birth weight babies, infant mortality, and childhood health problems.

Improved Access To Care will concentrate resources and support programs on meeting the needs of these women by providing incentives to obtain early and regular prenatal care and support services, and for all Childhood Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) visits during the child’s first year of life. The incentive component will consist of an array of necessary maternal and infant items (e.g., layettes, maternity clothing, diapers, strollers, cribs, diaper bags, infant toys, etc.) provided to expectant mothers and infants referred by the county medical center clinics and cooperating health centers. Participation in the incentive program is limited to those patients determined to be “at risk” for low birthweight babies, and for children under one year of age obtaining regular care at Alameda County Medical Center.

The transportation component will target the same population and will provide appropriate travel vouchers (bus tokens, bart tokens, taxi vouchers) for women and infants who cannot receive adequate and appropriate health care due to transportation difficulties. Recipients must be pregnant women or children receiving on-going health care at the Center clinics.