Partnering with Antenatal Navigators to Transform Health in Pregnancy (PATH)

PROJECT SUMMARY In the US, pervasive and insidious disparities in maternal health are urgent public health concerns. Social determinants of health (SDoH), such as poverty, exposure to racism, and limited access to care, critically shape perinatal outcomes, resulting in greater risk of adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes for low-income

and minority individuals. High-quality antenatal care supports optimal health, yet typically fails to meet the needs of marginalized populations. Improving the health of pregnant people in a patient-centered, equity-focused manner requires innovative models of care delivery across the spectrum of maternal care. One strategy

is patient navigation (PN), a longitudinal, barrier-focused, patient-centered intervention that offers support for health services. Although antenatal care is an ideal setting for PN, the benefits of antenatal PN for overall maternal and perinatal health have not been rigorously evaluated in randomized trials.

This proposal aims to test the efficacy of an innovative antenatal care PN model that extends and expands care for low-income pregnant individuals via the Partnering with Antenatal Navigators to Transform Health in Pregnancy (PATH) Trial. We will randomize 550 racially and ethnically diverse, nulliparous pregnant individuals

with low income (publicly funded antenatal care or income