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Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) and reproductive tract infections (RTI’s), caused by a common bacterium, are frequently encountered in the family physician’s office and neighborhood clinics. UTI’s account for 10% of office visits by women, and 15% of all women will get a UTI in their lifetime. More importantly, pregnant women have a greater risk of having an infection -- as high as 8%.
UTI’s can cause life threatening infections that lead to serious maternal and neonatal complications that can be devastating and lead to prematurity (birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation), low birthweight (less than 5 lb.,8 oz) and pneumonia in newborns. Therefore, it is critical for all women to be educated and screened, and to receive treatment for any infections before and during pregnancy to protect the health of her baby.
One such program, “Increasing Availability of Prevention Services: Education, Screening, and Treatment for Hispanic/Latino and Minority Women for Urinary and Reproductive Tract Infections” has been funded for three years (2007-2009) by the March of Dimes South Florida Division and is located at a free clinic - Clinica Luz Del Mundo – Light of the World Clinic in Oakland Park. The Clinic was established by a group of Hispanic physicians led by Dr. Erwin M. Vasquez whose mission is to provide free essential and preventative healthcare to the community with staff comprised of volunteer doctors, nurses, and medical professionals.
The program provides personalized health profiles to help women that have or are at risk of UTI’s/RTI’s to learn to control infections and reduce pre-term birth, through education, awareness/understanding, medical treatment/care, vitamins, and follow-up. Over the past three years over 1,500 women have been provided with services, and in the past six months alone The Clinic screened over 387 women, 185 lab tests were performed, 52 women were tested and treated for UTI's, and 54 women were tested and treated for RTI’s. |
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Women who tested positive for UTI’s and RTI’s were educated and counseled, medically treated, and provided direct and individual personal case management follow-up where appropriate. Through the March of Dimes grant program, the incidence of urinary and reproductive tract infections among the Clinic’s patient base was reduced by over 30%.
In addition, the Clinic also provided multi-vitamins with folic acid to those women that were of childbearing age and/or pregnant, provided educational handouts in English, Spanish or Creole, and counseled on the importance of vitamins, folic acid and good nutrition.
This program exemplifies the importance of preventative health care for a lifetime of wellness for women specifically focusing on the prenatal period when UTI’s can be identified and treated to avoid adverse birth outcomes. |
