Background
Early initiation of prenatal care leads to better birth outcomes. In the City of Milwaukee in 2007, only 74% of African American women initiated prenatal care in the first trimester compared to 85% of White women1. While 86% of White women received adequate prenatal care, only 74% of African American women received adequate prenatal care1. In 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report “Unequal treatment” that noted disparities in the quality of care received by African Americans2. The IOM charges that both covert and overt racism play a large role in these disparities.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the presence and nature of experiences of racial discrimination during prenatal care from the perspectives of African-American women in a low-income Milwaukee neighborhood.
Methods
Using a community-engaged approach, researchers collaborated with leaders of the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee to design a qualitative descriptive study consisting of six focus groups and two individual interviews.
Population
Thirty-one women participated in this study, all of whom identified themselves as African American, age 18 and older, with a child or children age 1 year or younger, and who experienced at least one prenatal care visit prior to delivery of her youngest child.
Progress To Date
Analysis is complete, and the study team is disseminating results through presentations while working on a manuscript for publication in an academic journal.
Timeline
October 2009 – October 2011
Funding Sources
Children’s Community Health Plan
Project Partners
Mary Mazul, CNM, Student Co-Principal Investigator, UW-Milwaukee
Trina Salm Ward, MSW, Student Co- Principal Investigator, UW-Milwaukee and Center for Urban Population Health
Amy Harley, PhD, Faculty Advisor, UW-Milwaukee and Center for Urban Population Health
Farrin Bridgewater, BA, Student Intern, UW-Milwaukee and Center for Urban Population Health
Samantha J. Perry, MPH, CHES, former Wisconsin Population Health Fellow, YWCA of Greater Milwaukee
For more information, contact Trina Salm Ward at tsalm@uwm.edu
References
[1}WDHS, DPH, BHIP. Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) : http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/wish/
[2]Smedley, B. D., Stith, A. Y. (2002). Unequal treatment: confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Nalson, A.R. (Eds.) Institute of Medicine.
