Perceptions about prenatal care: views of urban vulnerable groups
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND In the United States, infant mortality rates remain more than twice as high for African Americans as compared to other racial groups. Lack of adherence to prenatal care schedules in vulnerable, hard to reach, urban, poor women is associated with high infant mortality, particularly for women who abuse substances, are homeless, or live in communities having high poverty and high infant mortality. This issue is of concern to the women, their partners, and members of their communities. Because they are not part of the system, these womens' views are often not included in other studies. METHODS This qualitative study used focus groups with four distinct categories of people, to collect observations about prenatal care from various perspectives. The 169 subjects included homeless women; women with current or history of substance abuse; significant others of homeless women; and residents of a community with high infant mortality and poverty indices, and low incidence of adequate prenatal care. A process of coding and recoding using Ethnograph and counting ensured reliability and validity of the process of theme identification. RESULTS Barriers and motivators to prenatal care were identified in focus groups. Pervasive issues identified were drug lifestyle, negative attitudes of health care providers and staff, and non-inclusion of male partners in the prenatal experience. CONCLUSIONS Designing prenatal care relevant to vulnerable women in urban communities takes creativity, thoughtfulness, and sensitivity. System changes recommended include increased attention to substance abuse treatment/prenatal care interaction, focus on provider/staff attitudes, and commitment to inclusion of male partners.
منابع مشابه
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Prenatal Care Among Women in Rafsanjan (2000)
Background: Prenatal care plays an important role in the reduction of the maternal and infant mortality rates. This study was conducted in order to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of prenatal care among women in Rafsanjan. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done in the year 2000. The KAP eas determined by interviewing 642 women during t...
متن کاملHealth experts' perceptions about health education facilitators in the Iranian health system: A qualitative study
Background & Aim: Given the epidemiologic transition and necessity of educating to individuals, groups and organization for changing lifestyle and adherence, moreover inadequacy of current educational status, identifying health education facilitators in Iranian health system is necessary. Therefore the current study was done with the aim of explaining Facilitators of Health Education in Iranian...
متن کاملWomen's perceptions of access to prenatal care in the United States: a literature review.
Women report many barriers to accessing prenatal care. This article reviews the literature from 1990 to the present on women's perceptions of access to prenatal care within the United States. Barriers can be classified into societal, maternal, and structural dimensions. Women may not be motivated to seek care, especially for unintended pregnancies. Societal and maternal reasons cited for poor m...
متن کامل[Birth weight intra-urban differentials in the city of São Paulo].
OBJECTIVE To identify intra-urban differentials and risk factors in low birth weight prevalence. METHODS Information was gathered in the live birth declarations made by mothers residing in the city of São Paulo (Southern Brazil), and obtained through the Live Birth Information System and the Seade Foundation, for the period between 2002 and 2003, totaling 388,980 live births. The addresses we...
متن کاملInequalities in maternity care and newborn outcomes: one-year surveillance of births in vulnerable slum communities in Mumbai
BACKGROUND Aggregate urban health statistics mask inequalities. We described maternity care in vulnerable slum communities in Mumbai, and examined differences in care and outcomes between more and less deprived groups. METHODS We collected information through a birth surveillance system covering a population of over 280 000 in 48 vulnerable slum localities. Resident women identified births in...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید
ثبت ناماگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید
ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- BMC Public Health
دوره 2 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2002