Communication Between Pregnant People of Color and Prenatal Care Providers in the United States: An Integrative Review.

INTRODUCTION: Racism and discrimination negatively affect patient-provider communication. Yet, pregnant people of color consistently report being discriminated against, disrespected, and ignored. The purpose of this integrated review was to identify studies that examined communication between pregnant people of color and their prenatal care providers and evaluate the factors and outcomes arising from communication. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO databases for studies published between 2001 and 2023. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they reported on primary research conducted in the United States, were written in English, and focused on patient-provider communication with a sample that included pregnant people of color, defined as those who self-identified as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latina/x/e, Indigenous, American Indian, Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander American. Twenty-six articles were included in the review. Relevant data were extracted and compiled into an evidence table. We then applied the rating scale of the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model to assess the level of evidence and quality of the studies. Themes were identified using a memoing technique and organized into 3 a priori categories: factors, outcomes, and recommendations. RESULTS: Two overarching themes emerged from our analysis: racism/discrimination and unmet information needs. Subthemes were then identified as factors, outcomes, or recommendations. Factors included provider behaviors, language barriers, structural barriers, provider type, continuity of care, and fear. Outcome themes were disrespect, trust, decision-making power, missed appointments, and satisfaction with care. Lastly, culturally congruent care, provider training, and workforce development were categorized as recommendations. DISCUSSION: Inadequate communication between prenatal care providers and pregnant people of color continues to exist. Improving access to midwifery education for people of color can contribute to delivering perinatal care that is culturally and linguistically aligned. Further research about digital prenatal health communication is necessary to ensure equitable prenatal care.

In Support of Reproductive Health Justice.

Restrictions to the provision of essential health care during pregnancy is dangerous, erodes efforts to improve maternal health and reduce inequities, and violates the code of ethics we pledge to uphold.

In Support of Reproductive Health Justice.

Restrictions to the provision of essential health care during pregnancy is dangerous, erodes efforts to improve maternal health and reduce inequities, and violates the code of ethics we pledge to uphold.

Public Health Nursing Practice in the Affordable Care Act Era: A National Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To explore public health nurses' knowledge, perceptions, and practices under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was completed by a sample of 1,143 public health nurses (PHNs) in the United States. MEASURES: Descriptive statistics were analyzed for variables related to general knowledge and perception of the ACA and for the extent of involvement in activities related to the implementation of the ACA. Qualitative analysis was conducted on free text comments to two open-ended questions about current and future PHNs involvement in the ACA. RESULTS: Approximately 45% of PHNs reported changes in their daily work due to the ACA. PHNs reported being very or somewhat involved in these activities of the ACA: integration of primary care and public health (62%), provision of clinical preventive services (60.3%), care coordination (55.4%), patient navigation (55.3%), establishment of private-public partnerships (55.3%), population health strategies (53.6%), population health data assessment and analysis (53.8%), community health assessments (49%), involvement in medical homes (37.8%), provision of maternal and child health home visiting services (32.1%), and involvement in Accountable Care Organizations (29.2%). CONCLUSION: PHNs are making substantial contributions to implementation of the ACA.

The influence of detailed maternal ethnicity on cesarean delivery: findings from the U.S. birth certificate in the State of Massachusetts.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to examine the likelihood of primary cesarean delivery for women at low risk for the procedure in Massachusetts. METHODS: Birth certificate data for all births from 1996 to 2010 that were nulliparous, term, singleton, and vertex (NTSV; N = 427,393) were used to conduct logistic regression models to assess the likelihood of a cesarean delivery for each of the 31 ethnic groups relative to self-identified "American" mothers. The results were compared with broad classifications of race/ethnicity more commonly employed in research. RESULTS: While 23.3 percent of American women had primary cesarean deliveries, cesarean delivery rates varied from 12.9 percent for Cambodian to 32.4 percent for Nigerian women. Women from 21 of 30 ethnic groups had higher odds of a primary cesarean (range of adjusted odds ratios [AORs] 1.09-1.77), while only Chinese, Cambodian, and Japanese women had lower odds (range of AORs 0.66-0.92), compared with self-identified "Americans." Using broad race/ethnicity categories, Non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and "Other" women had higher odds of cesarean delivery relative to Non-Hispanic white women (range of AORs 1.12-1.47), while there were no differences for Asian or Pacific Islander women. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed maternal ethnicity explains the variation in NTSV cesarean delivery rates better than broad race/ethnicity categories. Different patterns of cesarean delivery between ethnic groups suggest cultural specificity related to birth culture.

Determinants of place of birth decisions in uncomplicated childbirth in Bangladesh: an empirical study.

OBJECTIVE: to test the predictive value of women's self-identified criteria in place of birth decisions in the event of uncomplicated childbirth in a setting where facility based skilled birth attendants are available. DESIGN: a retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases. The first phase used data from in-depth interviews. The second phase used data from semi-structured questionnaires. SETTING: the service area of Matlab, Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS: women 18-49 years who had an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery resulting in a live birth. FINDINGS: a women's intention about where to deliver during pregnancy, her perception of labour progress, the availability of transportation at the time of labour, and the close proximity of a dai to the household were independent predictors of facility-based SBA use. Marital age was also significant predictor of use. KEY CONCLUSIONS: the availability of delivery services does not guarantee use and instead specific considerations and conditions during pregnancy and in and around the time of birth influence the preventive health seeking behaviour of women during childbirth. Our findings have implications for birth preparedness and complication readiness initiatives that aim to strengthen timely use of SBAs for all births. Demand side strategies to reduce barriers to health seeking, as part of an overall health system strengthening approach, are needed to meet the Millennium Development 5 goal.