Perceived nonfinancial barriers to maternity services in Guilford County by African American pregnant women

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Karen Webb Bennett (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Martha Taylor

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify perceived barriers which prevented African American pregnant women from accessing and utilizing maternity services in Guilford County. Fifteen African American postpartum women who received four or less prenatal visits and WIC services were recruited to participate in a two part study. Part one of the study included a face-to-face interview to complete a standardized questionnaire and was conducted within 24 to 72 hours after delivery. A food frequency was completed to determine the nutritional habits of the subjects. Focused ethnographic interviewing was used to conduct the second part of the project. Part two included in-depth interviews using a standardized questionnaire guide. The in-depth interviews were conducted with ten of the subjects in their homes. Several nonfinancial barriers were found to prevent these women from accessing and utilizing services including lack of services in their communities; poor or absent transportation and/or childcare; and experiences, attitudes, and beliefs about health and nutrition. Two additional underlying themes that emerged from the qualitative data were not found with the standardized questionnaire. They were high levels of stress and lack of social support. Racist treatment was also cited as a nonfinancial barrier to maternity services. The diets of the subjects were marginally inadequate in all food groups except for protein, and each could have benefited from WIC Services. Future research should focus on improved strategies to recruit hard-to-reach women into care.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 1996
Subjects
African American women $x Health and hygiene $z North Carolina $z Guilford County
Prenatal care $z North Carolina $z Guilford County

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