Indiana Access Research Findings
Focus Groups with Pregnant & Parenting Women
The Value of a Learner's Stance: Lessons Learned from Pregnant and Parenting Women
This qualitative study aimed to:
1) understand access to maternal and child health services from the perspectives of diverse consumers; and
2) provide rich descriptions to inform strategies to enhance the quality of this access.
Specific areas explored were the associations between access and:
1) consumer perceptions of a healthy pregnancy, help seeking beliefs and messages;
2) cultural perspectives, beliefs and practices;
3) provider and organizational dimensions and
4) consumer perceptions and reactions to racism and discrimination.
Lessons Learned from Pregnant and Parenting Women
To assess women's satisfaction with their prenatal care experiences, a 162-item survey was developed by the National Friendly Access Project staff and administered via face-to-face interviews to women at Wishard and Methodist Hospitals during their postpartum stay. Specific areas of inquiry included: demographic information; logistical issues; satisfaction with provider and staff interactions during the outpatient prenatal clinic; inpatient hospital labor; and delivery experience. Data regarding perceived levels of social support, intent of pregnancy, presence of stressful life events and other areas were also measured.