Area of Responsibility: Area V: Advocacy Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice@@@Health Communication@@@Health Disparities@@@Health Equity@@@Health Policy@@@Health Research@@@Maternal and Child Health@@@Po, Subcompetencies: 5.1.2 Examine evidence-informed findings related to identified health issues and desired changes., 5.2.6 Identify organizational policies and procedures and federal, state, and local laws that pertain to the advocacy efforts. Research or Practice: Research
Graduate Student Arizona State University Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
After reading our poster, the attendee will be able to:
Describe newborn screening and its importance in public health
After reading our poster, the attendee will be able to:
Analyze newborn screening policy and understand policy exemption allowances
After reading our poster, the attendee will be able to:
Compare newborn screening policy with other infant public health measures by examining policy exemption allowances
Brief Abstract Summary: Discover newborn screening’s vital importance in public health
Obtain an understanding of state-level policies in newborn screening, Vitamin K injection, eye prophylaxis, and Hepatitis B vaccination
Recognize the differences in policies between states in infant public health
Recognize the differences in policies within states and infant public health measures
Gain data-driven evidence to inform policy, advocacy, and education
Detailed abstract description: Newborn screening (NBS) is one of the most successful public health programs in the United States and tests approximately four million infants annually. One in 300 infants is screened positive for a severe or life-threatening disorder that can be treated effectively after NBS detection. The screen identifies over sixty metabolic and genetic disorders, although there are state law differences in what disorders are tested. NBS is mandated by law in every state, but exemption allowances vary greatly. In 2007, the NBS Saves Lives Act established federal funds for NBS education and outreach. Since 2019, more parents have refused NBS for their child, exposing our nation’s most vulnerable population to potentially tragic results. This could speak to a larger trend of distrust in public health institutions, which creates a critical need to educate the public regarding legislation and safeguard policies.
This study team analyzed state-level policies on a national level regarding NBS and 3 other public health measures during a newborn’s first 24 hours of life. This includes (1) Vitamin K injection, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which prevents life-threatening vitamin K deficiency bleeding, (2) eye prophylaxis recommended by US Preventive Services Task Force which prevents blindness caused by neonatal conjunctivitis, as well as the first dose of the (3) Hepatitis B vaccination as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which prevents prenatal transmission of Hepatitis B. The analysis examines these four factors state-by-state and compares the exemption allowances between states, as well as between measures within a single state. Preliminary findings show large discordances within states regarding their refusal allowances. The findings of this analysis are foundational to accurately educating the public, understanding the national landscape, and safeguarding or strengthening the policies around this preventive screening, which allows NBS programs to save the lives of infants in the United States. Attendees will discern state-level policy exemption differences in infant public health measures and gain an evidence-based understanding to inform advocacy, policymaking, and education efforts.
