Students Assist DHSS in Prenatal Care Research
Currently, New Jersey’s Department of Health and Senior Services runs three prenatal care programs for residents in Trenton, Newark and New Brunswick as part of a pilot program. If successful, women could see more clinics popping up across the state.
Of course, plenty of research is needed to determine the effectiveness and need for a program before deciding to expand. Recently, students from Rider University’s College of Business Administration investigated the effects of prenatal care to assist the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
This semester, under the guidance of Dr. Kelly Noonan, professor of Economics, students in the Seminar in Economics/Health Administration Research, read up on literature, analyzed statistics from DHSS and wrote a report entitled The Relationship Between Prenatal Care and Birth Outcomes of Low-Income Pregnant Women in Three New Jersey Cities: 2007-2008.
The class presented their findings to representatives from DHSS and Family Health Initiatives, deans and professors on May 4. In their research, the students also took a look at birth certificate data to examine the relationship between birth outcomes and the timing of prenatal care. The students found that women who were eligible for Medicaid, but were not enrolled, were less likely to seek first trimester care and the birth outcomes were not as good as those who sought first trimester care. The students found that receiving prenatal care better the chances of a healthy baby and a healthy birth weight. They also found, but not surprisingly, that substance use negatively affects birth outcomes.
Each spring, students in Seminar in Economics/Health Administration Research conduct a community-based research project related to economics and health. Last year, Rider worked with DHSS to take a look at why people are not reenrolling in New Jersey Family Care, a health insurance program for low-income children. This year, DHSS asked for Rider’s assistance in conducting research for their prenatal care pilot program because the department hopes to implement a statewide care program.
Noonan said the seminar allows students to gain hands-on experience. “Students learn more than they would in a typical class. They gain a real-world perspective, and their research can ultimately make an impact. Someone could use that information to set policy, perhaps.”
This year’s class included Kristen Ashukian, a senior Business Administration major; Man Sung Bae, a senior Economics major; Hilary Bogart, a senior Accounting major; Angela Buziak, a senior Business Economics and Global Business dual major; Phillip Capaldi, a junior Business Economics major; Jonathan Chebra, a senior Political Science major; Charles Choe, a junior Business Economics and Finance dual major; Rasheed Edwards, a junior Business Economics major; Andrew Ewaskiewicz, a senior Business Administration major; Jessica Fuller, a senior Business Administration major; Zarif Islam, a junior Economics and Political Science dual major; Lacey Lecato, senior a Finance and Business Economics dual major; Joseph Seaton, a senior Finance major; Allison Seiden, a senior Biology major; Corey Shields, a senior Business Administration and Marketing dual major; Benjamin Silverman, a senior Business Administration major and Marketing dual major; Cheryl Supernavage, a junior Actuarial Science and Finance dual major; and Mateusz Wnek, a senior Economics major.
