A nurse is providing community education at a maternal-child health clinic. During the session, a client asks about national priorities for improving pregnancy outcomes in the United States. The nurse explains that the Healthy People 2030 initiative establishes evidence-based objectives to reduce risks and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants. Which of the following goals from Healthy People 2030 should the nurse emphasize as a key maternal-child health priority?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Encouraging cesarean births among low-risk clients is not a Healthy People 2030 objective; unnecessary cesarean deliveries can increase maternal and neonatal complications. B. Decreasing the fetal death rate before 20 weeks is important, but the primary maternal-child health priority in Healthy People 2030 focuses on outcomes related to maternal safety and mortality. C. Decreasing the birth rate is not a stated goal of Healthy People 2030 for maternal-child health; the initiative emphasizes improving outcomes rather than limiting births. D. Decreasing maternal deaths is a key objective of Healthy People 2030, reflecting the priority to improve maternal safety, reduce pregnancy-related complications, and enhance overall maternal and infant health outcomes.