Anatomy of Good Prenatal Care: Perspectives of Low Income African-American Women on Barriers and Facilitators to Prenatal Care. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2017 Feb;4(1):79-86
Date
01/30/2016Pubmed ID
26823064DOI
10.1007/s40615-015-0204-xScopus ID
2-s2.0-85014960414 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 65 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Although early, consistent prenatal care (PNC) can be helpful in improving poor birth outcomes, rates of PNC use tend to be lower among African-American women compared to Whites. This study examines low-income African-American women's perspectives on barriers and facilitators to receiving PNC in an urban setting.
METHODS: We conducted six focus groups with 29 women and individual structured interviews with two women. Transcripts were coded to identify barriers and facilitators to obtaining PNC; codes were reviewed to identify emergent themes.
RESULTS: Barriers to obtaining PNC included structural barriers such as transportation and insurance, negative attitudes towards PNC, perceived poor quality of care, unintended pregnancy, and psychosocial stressors such as overall life stress and chaos. Facilitators of PNC included positive experiences such as trusting relationships with providers, respectful staff and providers, and social support.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest important components in an ideal PNC model to engage low-income African-American women.
Author List
Mazul MC, Salm Ward TC, Ngui EMAuthor
Trina Salm Ward PhD, APSW Assistant Professor in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Attitude to HealthFemale
Focus Groups
Health Services Accessibility
Health Status Disparities
Humans
Infant
Infant Mortality
Models, Organizational
Poverty
Pregnancy
Prenatal Care
Qualitative Research
Urban Population
Wisconsin
