New Program Educates Pregnant Women About Their Heightened Risk Of Foodborne Illness
/>Ohio State University and Colorado State University have developed an educational program to protect pregnant women against the dangers of Llsteria and other foodborne illness. The program, called “Healthy Baby, Healthy Me,” is available in both English and Spanish for free download
“Most pregnant women don't think of themselves as being at greater risk for foodborne illness during pregnancy. But, because they are naturally immune-suppressed, they are more at risk for foodborne illnesses than other adults,” Lydia Medeiros, a food safety specialist with Ohio State University Extension and one of the project's principal investigators said in a statement.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that sometimes can be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Among pregnant women, listeria infections can cause premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth or serious health problems in newborns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Pregnant women are 20 times more likely to contract listeriosis than other healthy adults. They account for about one sixth of all annual cases. The CDC estimates that 1600 people contract listeriosis every year. Of those 260 die.
Of the 146 people who were sickened by the recent cantaloupe Listeria outbreak, seven were pregnancy related. Three cases were diagnosed in newborns and four in pregnant women, one of whom miscarried.
Medeiros and Pat Kendall, Extension specialist and associate dean for research at Colorado State, have worked on the project since 2006 with $1.5 million in funding from the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“In our research, we found that most pregnant women never made the connection between food safety and the health of the baby,” Kendall said.
Healthy Baby, Healthy Me focuses on four pathogens of special concern for pregnant women: Listeria monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii, Salmonella and Campylobacter. The lessons include information on the pathogens of concern, foods most associated with these pathogens, and what the women can do to reduce their risk and protect the health of their babies.
The Healthy Baby, Healthy Me curriculum is designed to be taught in a classroom or clinic setting, but the lessons and handouts are available for free download on the website. PowerPoint presentations and how-to videos are also available.
