728: Pregnant Persons Accidental Overdose, Talking Health In The 406

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, August 14, 2024 I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials,

VERONICA GILLISPIE-BELL: 

We have seen an increase in pregnancy associated deaths associated with accidental overdose. Actually, for the last several years, we've been seeing this increase.

SILVERS: 

Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell, with the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative says accidental overdose is a leading cause of death among pregnant persons in Louisiana. The Perinatal Quality Collaborative has been working to change those numbers.

GILLISPIE-BELL: 

Part of that work has been first, dealing with the stigma and bias that we create in the healthcare system that really prevents our patients that are using substances and are pregnant from coming forward because of the stigma and bias that they know they may encounter.

SILVERS: 

Gillespie-Bell also says we need to be asking patients about their substance use.

GILLISPIE-BELL: 

Also making sure that we are universally screening for substance use through a validated verbal tool, not by testing urine or testing blood, but screening through a verbal tool, so that we can identify those individuals that are using substances, so we can then Get them into care.

SILVERS: 

Another tactic Gillespie-Bell's team is using is to make sure patients go home with Naloxone, not just the prescription.

GILLISPIE-BELL: 

Data shows that when you send patients home with a prescription for naloxone, only about 10% of patients actually get that filled. So what we're doing is for those patients that we're sending home with a narcotic also giving them naloxone.

SILVERS: 

The Louisiana Department of Health has also created a brand new video series about the subject. You can check out that announcement by using the link in the show notes.

Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services is expanding its communication strategy. Linda Krantz, a health communication specialist, tells us about their new podcast, talking health in the 406.

LINDA KRANTZ: 

Our podcast is a public health podcast, and we developed it because we want people to see public health differently. We know that data can move people and persuade them, but it's really the story that makes the connection to the data and can inspire people to act.

SILVERS: 

With just over a million people spread out over 147,000 square miles, getting to every community is a challenge, so a podcast made sense.

KRANTZ: 

So trying to get out and seeing people and gathering stories in because of the geographics of where people live, we're more of a rural frontier state, so billboards and TV commercials and different things don't always reach the population we need. That's why we chose podcasts, because they are portable, they are conversationable. And of course, then we can do adaptive literacy.

SILVERS: 

The ultimate goal is to tell effective stories and allow the people of Montana to see public health in a new light.

KRANTZ: 

We want people to see public health differently. It's not just your traditional immunizations and what testing water and seat belts. There's so much more to public health. The people who work in public health truly have a passion for it, and truly want to help people not only connect to resources that are available to them, but also help them make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

SILVERS: 

You can listen to talking health in the 406 by using the link in the show notes.

Also today, health equity continues to be one of the most important aspects of public health. O'Keyla Cooper explains how astho resources can help your department take on the challenge.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

A new astho report delivers a blueprint for setting up a health equity or minority health office. It covers key aspects like establishment structure and funding, while sharing lessons learned from similar offices in states like California, Michigan, New York and others. Download the full report via the link in the show notes.

SILVERS: 

Finally, this morning, if you're looking for more public health news each and every week, sign up for the public health weekly newsletter. You'll get the latest public health news directly in your inbox.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.