Meeting the needs of pregnant women and babies in a disaster: The role of voluntary nongovernmental health organizations

Amy A. Peterson, BS, MA; Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH; Judith S. Gooding, BA; Capi A. Landreneau, MSW; Jennifer L. Howse, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2007.0043

Authors

Amy A. Peterson, BS, MA
Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH
Judith S. Gooding, BA
Capi A. Landreneau, MSW
Jennifer L. Howse, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2007.0043

Keywords:

nongovernmental organization, infants, mothers, pregnant women, healthcare, disaster, relief, aid

Abstract

Pregnant women, lactating women, and babies, especially sick and extremely fragile premature babies, have special needs during a disaster and in its aftermath. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that strive to improve the health of babies can help meet the needs of pregnant women and babies in a disaster. These NGOs, like the March of Dimes, are not disaster relief organizations; therefore, their primary aim in disaster preparedness, as well as during a disaster and in its aftermath, is to work with disaster planning groups to ensure, through advocacy and education, that the immediate and ongoing needs of pregnant women and babies are met. If necessary in an extreme disaster, NGOs can also provide some direct services to help meet the needs of pregnant women and infants, as the March of Dimes did after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Author Biographies

Amy A. Peterson, BS, MA

March of Dimes, White Plains, New York.

Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH

March of Dimes, White Plains, New York; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island.

Judith S. Gooding, BA

March of Dimes, White Plains, New York.

Capi A. Landreneau, MSW

March of Dimes, White Plains, New York.

Jennifer L. Howse, PhD

March of Dimes, White Plains, New York.

References

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American College of Nurse-Midwives, Department of Professional Services: QuickInfo: Disaster Preparedness. American College of Nurse- Midwives Web site. Available at www.midwife.org/siteFiles/education/Disaster_Preparedness_1.20.06.pdf#search=%22quick%20info%20disaster%20preparedness%22. Accessed September 26, 2006.