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Introduction: Expanding access to doula care is a key strategy for improving the perinatal experiences and health outcomes of birthing people of color in the U.S. This study investigates the future of maternal healthcare in the U.S. from the perspective of doulas and highlights emerging technology and other opportunities related to strengthening the doula workforce. Methods: The study recruited community doulas from 12 unique U.S. states, ensuring at least half of the doulas predominantly served communities of color. Doulas (N = 26) participated in semi-structured, futures-oriented interviews that explored their experiences providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic and utilization of technology. A subset of doulas (n = 8) were engaged in interactive workshops where they envisioned alternative futures for doula care and childbirth. Interviews and workshops were analyzed using the Framework Method. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic heightened technology use among doulas and increased client accessibility. Social media serves as a unique space for critical community building and client outreach. Doulas reported opportunities to strengthen and mobilize the future workforce: recognizing doula care as a reimbursable service by health insurers, utilizing doula collectives for community practice to decrease burnout, increasing emotional support for doulas, and instilling a chain of learning through mentorship. Discussion: Futures thinking served as a valuable approach for doulas to illuminate the implications of present-day challenges and empowered doulas to design roadmaps toward better futures for doulas and maternal health. Doulas should be engaged as partners to hold a meaningful decision-making role when discussing policies, employment structures, emerging technology, and other aspects of doulas' positioning within the healthcare system. Significance: Doulas provide information, and emotional and physical support to birthing persons throughout labor, birth, and postpartum. Various studies have shown that doulas help to address gaps in maternal healthcare and reduce racial health disparities. Despite doulas' impactful role in facilitating empowered childbirth experiences, they are often left out of decision-making conversations among maternal health professionals. By gathering doula perspectives on the future of maternal healthcare through blending futures thinking and racial equity, this study provides opportunities around emerging technology and other strategies to mobilize the doula workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This commentary proposes a new direction to train the MCH workforce by leveraging today's rapidly changing innovation and technology to address persistent health inequities. Description: We outline the creation of an MCH technology and innovation training pipeline developed by harnessing creative funding opportunities, diversifying training modalities, and expanding partnerships beyond traditional academic-practice partners, that be replicated and adapted by other academic programs. Assessment: Technology and innovation will continue to be a growing intersection between health and equity, and we must create a robust pipeline of MCH leaders prepared to collaborate with entrepreneurial and innovation leaders. Conclusion: Technology offers an important opportunity to improve MCH outcomes and reduce disparities, but only if we train the MCH workforce to seize these opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This case study provides a high-level overview of the human-centered design (HCD) or 'design thinking' process and its relevance to public health. Description: The Best Babies Zone (BBZ) initiative is a multi-year project aimed at reducing inequities in infant mortality rates. In 2012, BBZ launched pilot programs in three US cities: Cincinnati, Ohio; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Oakland, California. The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD), the lead for the Oakland BBZ site, identified HCD as a promising approach for addressing the social and economic conditions that are important drivers of health inequities. HCD is a process for creating innovative products, services, and strategies that prioritizes the needs of the intended population. ACPHD partnered with the Gobee Group (a social innovation design consultancy) to develop the Design Sprint. The Design Sprint was a 12-week pilot in which 14 professionals from nine organizations used the HCD process to develop concepts for stimulating a vibrant local economy in the Oakland Best Babies Zone. Assessment: Thirty- to sixty-minute semi-structured interviews were conducted with all 14 individuals involved in the Design Sprint. With the exception of one interview, the interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and inductively coded to identify themes. Conclusion: Our experience suggests that HCD can: enhance community engagement; expedite the timeframe for challenge identification, program design, and implementation; and create innovative programs that address complex challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reaction time is one of the important methods used to study a person's central information processing speed and fast coordinated peripheral movement response. The purpose of this study was to compare the reaction time performances in controls, athletes, and patients of type 1 diabetes mellitus and to find out any gender differences. METHODOLOGY: 120 subjects aged 20-30 years were distributed into three groups. Group I - Healthy controls, Group II - Athletes, Group III - Patients of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Equal number of males and females were taken. The reaction time was recorded for auditory and visual stimuli in seconds, by reaction time device. RESULTS: Assessed by using unpaired 't' test. The athletes performed better than the controls and in the patients of Type 1 diabetes mellitus; there was a significant prolongation of the visual as well as auditory reaction times. However, gender differences were not observed. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the reaction time is a good indicator of performance in sports, which suggests that diabetics participating in quick action sports should be careful about the injuries that may occur as a result of increased reaction time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]