About CDC's Division of Reproductive Health

Vision

Optimal reproductive health for a healthy future.

Mission

The CDC's Division of Reproductive Health's (DRH) mission is to promote optimal and equitable health in women and infants through public health surveillance, research, leadership, and partnership to move science to practice.

Goals

Improve women's reproductive health from menarche through menopause.

Improve pregnancy health and care.

Improve fetal, newborn, and infant health.

Overview

The Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) is a part of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). With fiscal year (FY) 2011 funding of $44 million, DRH has about 140 employees, including several maternal and child health epidemiologists and research professionals in the field.

Safe motherhood begins before conception with proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle and continues with appropriate prenatal care and the prevention and treatment of complications when possible. The ideal result is a full-term pregnancy without unnecessary interventions, the delivery of a healthy infant, and a healthy postpartum period in a positive environment that supports the physical and emotional needs of the woman, infant, and family. To enhance the ability of others to identify and address male and female reproductive issues and infant health issues, DRH provides technical assistance, consultation, and training worldwide. To better understand the burden of maternal complications and mortality and to decrease disparities among populations at risk of death and complications from pregnancy, DRH supports national and state-based surveillance systems to monitor trends and investigate health issues; conducts epidemiologic, behavioral, demographic, and health services research; and works with partners to translate research findings into health care practice, public health policy, and health promotion strategies.

Core Functions

• Surveillance: Monitor the burden of disease, risk factors, preventive services, and other associated factors.
  
• Research: Support health research that contributes to effective, evidence-based and informed public health practices, programs, and policies.
  
• Science to Practice: Develop and implement strategies that ensure scientific research is applied through effective public health programs, practices, and policies.
  
• Strategic Partnerships: Develop and leverage partnerships to move science to practice.
  
• Capacity Building, Preparedness, and Response: Assist agencies and organizations to develop their capacity to implement surveillance, research, best practices, and respond during disasters and outbreaks.
  
• Technical and Operational Support: Develop efficient internal processes, operations, communications, and systems to better serve the public.