EngagINg the COmmunity to Reduce Preterm birth via Adherence To an Individualized Prematurity Prevention Plan (INCORPorATe IP3): intervention development and future pilot study design

Abstract

Objective

Non-Hispanic Black birthing individuals are at increased risk of preterm birth compared to other racial and ethnic groups. In our clinical setting, we offer a tailored package of recommendations to reduce the risk of preterm birth known as an individualized prematurity prevention plan (IP3). Patient-centered, community engaged interventions that address patient-perceived barriers to preterm birth prevention are urgently needed.

Materials and methods

We engaged a group of stakeholders to develop a mutli-level (patient-centered and community-involved) intervention that will increase adherence to an individualized prematurity prevention plan (IP3) by addressing barriers identified during our prior qualitative studies.

Results

The intervention includes trained doulas from a community-led, Black owned doula group. The doulas will moderate group prenatal social support sessions. In between the group sessions, participants will be encouraged to continue interacting with one another and the doulas using a private Facebook™ group page. We will pilot test the intervention in a cohort of pregnant, self-identified non-Hispanic Black patients with a history of prior preterm birth.

Conclusion

We present a novel, patient-centered, community engaged intervention to reduce preterm birth in high-risk non-Hispanic Black birthing individuals. If the intervention is feasible based on the pilot study findings, we anticipate conducting an appropriately powered study to determine whether the intervention achieves our goal of reducing preterm birth.

Keywords:

• Disparity
• preterm birth
• intervention
• doula
• group prenatal care

Disclosure statement

Dr. Bosworth reports research grants from Otsuka, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Improved Patient Outcomes, Boehinger Ingelheim, NIH, and VA as well as consulting from Sanofi, Novartis, Otsuka, Abbott, Xcenda, Preventric Diagnostics, VIDYA, and the Medicines Company. None of this work is related to the current study. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Data availability statement

N/A, no datasets associated with the current manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Wheeler is supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number [1KL2TR002554].