Healthy Births for Healthy Communities

The Healthy Births for Healthy Communities (HBHC) Interconceptional Care Program provided comprehensive interconception services to women living in Chicago’s North Lawndale and Austin communities who had recently experienced a preterm birth, low birthweight birth, or fetal loss. Participants received case management, medical care, reproductive education, a medical home, and assistance setting reproductive and self-management goals in the 18 months following their adverse birth outcomes¹. The program started in July 2006 and ended in February 2010².

• Increased healthy behaviors

• Improved health outcomes

• Increased use of contraception

There is insufficient evidence to determine whether Healthy Births for Healthy Communities (HBHC) affected health behaviors or outcomes among program participants. An evaluation of HBHC indicates that most participants did not intend to get pregnant soon, but entered the program using minimally effective methods or no method of preventing pregnancy and STIs. Despite a high prevalence of health problems, most participants perceived themselves as healthy and considered social and economic needs more pressing than health needs. This evaluation suggests that interventions similar to HBHC work with patients to address their socio-economic needs in conjunction with education about contraception and preventive care¹. Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects. 

The archived Healthy Births for Healthy Communities website includes information about the HBHC model, outreach strategies, and tools used by the program².