810: Maternal and Childhood Health Prospectus, Pertussis Persists

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, December 13, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

DEBRA BOGEN: 

We are using our Maternal Mortality Review Committee data and recommendations, feedback from a statewide survey, as well as several listening sessions to develop a multi-agency maternal health strategic plan.

SILVERS: 

Dr. Debra Bogen, secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and an ASTHO member, discusses what her state is doing in relation to maternal and child health. Supporting maternal and child health is ASTHO's next topic in its Legislative Prospectus Series, and Bogen says it is a priority in Pennsylvania, as well.

BOGEN: 

We are expanding the use of doulas and community health workers to increase access to care. We know that these are proven strategies to improve health outcomes for mothers, infants and families.

SILVERS: 

Public health can't do all of this on its own. Bogen says her team is also working on legal changes.

BOGEN: 

And we're working closely with our Legislative Black Maternal Health Caucus, which was created specifically to champion legislative initiatives to improve maternal health.

SILVERS: 

Additionally, we have to continue to take care of people well after birth.

BOGEN: 

Every student deserves to be safe and feel safe in their school. Our- Pennsylvania's current budget provides funds to put more mental health and physical safety resources in our schools, and that was in this year's budget. The governor secured $100 million towards that initiative.

SILVERS: 

Learn more about ASTHO's Legislative Prospectus Series by clicking the link in the show notes.

Dr. Tina Tan is the president of the Infectious Disease Society of America, and was recently quoted in an NBC News article about whooping cough, or pertussis. Tan tells us that pertussis is so transmittable, we have to make sure providers are correctly diagnosing the disease.

TINA TAN: 

People need to be better at diagnosing the disease, because if you don't diagnose somebody with the disease, they basically can transmit the disease for three to four weeks.

SILVERS: 

Tan says public health's role is education.

TAN: 

I would really emphasize that there needs to be increased education of healthcare providers on the fact that pertussis can occur in individuals of all ages and that having previously been vaccinated as a child or having had pertussis in the past does not protect you for life.

SILVERS: 

Public health also has to make pertussis a communication priority each and every year.

TAN: 

The way they can communicate that is that pertussis is a disease that circulates in the community every single year, individuals that are not up to date on their pertussis vaccinations are at increased risk for getting the disease and potentially having complications associated with that.

SILVERS: 

The NBC News article that Tan is quoted in is in the show notes.

Also, how do we get better at predicting the next disaster? O'Keyla Cooper tells us.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

An ASTHO blog article on disease forecasting and modeling explores how mathematical models and forecasts predict outbreaks and guide public health decisions. It highlights different model types and their role in resource planning and response strategies. You can read more using the link in the show notes.

SILVERS: 

Finally, we want to congratulate ASTHO member and friend of the podcast, Dr. Betsy Tilson, who serves as the state health director and chief medical officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Tilson recently received the Public Service Award from the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Congratulations, Dr. Tilson on this well-deserved award.

That'll do it for today. We're back on Monday 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 weekend.