In a major move to improve maternal health, the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) announced a landmark grant from the CDC Foundation

that will empower the organizations to strengthen nursing’s response to infectious diseases during pregnancy with a keen focus on addressing the alarming resurgence of congenital syphilis in the United States.

Confronting a Growing Crisis

Syphilis, a preventable and treatable condition, has resurfaced as a pressing public health issue in recent years. Congenital syphilis has more than tripled, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), due to severe consequences such as stillbirths, preterm births, and long-term health concerns among affected infants. The root causes often lie in gaps in early diagnosis, timely treatment, and access to care for pregnant individuals.

NPWH will lead this extensive effort to close these gaps with its key partners: the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. The project will create and distribute significant tools and resources, including webinars, podcasts, clinical protocol templates, and targeted web campaigns.

These tools support healthcare providers by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively counsel and protect pregnant individuals and their families against syphilis and other infectious threats.

The Special Role of Nurse Practitioners

Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP-BCs) are on the frontlines of maternal healthcare and are uniquely positioned to tackle the congenital syphilis crisis. With their direct role in patient care, they are crucial in ensuring early screening, providing patient education on the risks of untreated syphilis, and administering timely treatments to prevent transmission from mother to infant. This initiative will provide specialized training to enhance diagnostic accuracy and ensure comprehensive care reaches at-risk patients.

“The rise in congenital syphilis cases is deeply concerning, and NPWH is honored to be part of this crucial joint project,” said Heather L. Maurer, MA, CAE, CEO of NPWH. “The educational resources and training developed through this initiative will greatly enhance the ability of nurses and APRNs to meet this challenge head-on. By equipping them with the latest knowledge and tools, we can ensure that healthcare providers are better prepared to intervene early, prevent adverse outcomes, and improve the health of pregnant individuals and their infants.”

A Collaborative Effort to Create for Lasting Change

This initiative’s overarching goal is to significantly reduce congenital syphilis incidence by enhancing healthcare providers’ capacity to identify and treat syphilis swiftly during pregnancy. Additionally, the project will address other perinatal infectious diseases, such as cytomegalovirus and hepatitis C, focusing on early detection, comprehensive care, and patient-centered counseling.

In the coming months, NPWH and its partners will roll out these valuable resources to healthcare providers nationwide. The effort will launch with a series of online learning opportunities and targeted public health campaigns, empowering nurses and APRNs to safeguard maternal and infant health.

This initiative promises to impact public health by equipping frontline healthcare workers with the necessary tools and knowledge. It will ensure safer pregnancies and healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies across the nation.

The post Empowering Nurses: CDC Foundation Funds NPWH to Battle Increasing Health Threats in Pregnancy first appeared on Daily Nurse.