Babyzoom: An Effective Way to Provide Virtual Education Regarding Infant Development to Moms Living in Poverty in Central Ohio

Purpose: According to the CDC and Ohio Department of Health, Ohio has the 10th highest infant mortality rate in the country, with the leading causes being preterm birth and birth defects. BabyZoom is part of a larger initiative, Moms2B, at The Ohio State University that aims to improve these statistics and address maternal and fetal health disparities by working with mothers (“Moms”) living in poverty in central Ohio. BabyZoom aims to empower Moms to support their baby’s development, identify concerns, and seek early evaluation and treatment for their baby when indicated. Pediatric physical therapists (PTs) play a crucial role as members of the transdisciplinary team supporting and educating Moms in BabyZoom.

Description: BabyZoom is a free, year-round, virtual community outreach program for Moms during their baby’s first year of life. We chose a virtual format to improve ease of access and overcome barriers to in-person attendance. BabyZoom sessions are held weekly for one hour, consisting of a 30-minute music and movement class led by a Kindermusik teacher, a 10-minute presentation by a PT on infant development or local resources, and a 20-minute discussion for review of resources and questions. Moms receive a gift card for attending. Many presentations address gross motor development; however, applying a transdisciplinary theoretical framework, PTs also present on fine motor, speech, hearing, and safety. In collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, presentations were designed so that other disciplines could present the lessons in the future. To assess the effectiveness of the program for quality improvement purposes, a five-question poll was shared after each session from 10/27/21-3/6/22. Poll results and attendance trends were analyzed using Excel.

Summary of Use: A total of 233 poll responses were collected over 16 sessions. Average attendance at each session was 20 Moms, and an average of 72% responded to the poll. Of respondents across all sessions, 95% learned one new thing about their baby, 96% planned to try something new with their baby that week, 99% felt confident they can help their baby learn new things, and 96% knew where to access help for their baby. Moms identified “learning about development” (32%) and “playing with my baby” (28%) as their favorite parts of the sessions.

Importance to Members: Pediatric PTs regularly support infant development through direct patient care; however, they also have the tools to impact infant development beyond the clinic through participation in community outreach programs such as BabyZoom. Our project leveraged a transdisciplinary model of care to address maternal and infant health disparities in the local community by directly educating, empowering, and supporting Moms. The overall positive response to poll questions indicates that brief lessons on development presented by pediatric PTs may be an effective way to improve Moms’ knowledge and self-efficacy. Virtual meetings may offer a feasible alternative to in-person meetings to expand outreach and overcome barriers such as transportation.