FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Oct. 28 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news release:

What would make maternal health research more useful to families in Arkansas? A new U of A project will put that question directly to patients, health care providers and community partners.

Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the 12-month effort launched July 1 and is led by the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) in partnership with Community Clinic of Northwest Arkansas.

The numbers are stark, and the need is urgent. Pregnant and postpartum women in rural and semi-rural communities face higher risks of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preterm birth and maternal stress. Long drives to ap...