Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9321-0009

Date Available

5-6-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Graduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

College

Public Health

Department/School/Program

Public Health

Faculty

Dr. Steven Browning

Committee Member

Dr. Ann Coker

Faculty

Dr. Jerod Stapleton

Abstract

Maternal mortality rates rob families across the U.S. of a mother figure, and each death is preventable. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of high-earning countries. This study assesses the effects of the VIPCorps program, a course on the top 3 risk factors of maternal mortality, on improving knowledge and attitudes towards victims of IPV. Students in helping professions at the University of Kentucky (n = 223) were recruited via on campus advertising and remotely allocated to either the VIPCorps program or a mock maternal mortality training control. Generalized linear modeling was used to estimate the difference in pre-post training scores with subjects who took their training as they were randomized and subjects who completed their assigned training. The VIPCorps program did improve subject’s composite empathy score, reduced victim blame, and improved self-efficacy, however, findings were statistically insignificant in both subject pools. The study builds on previous literature with successful randomization of subjects and a diverse subject pool. Both training courses analyzed contained content on IPV, so future research should assess the impact that the VIPCorps training has on the other 2 top risk factors of maternal mortality.

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Public Health Commons

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