PURPOSE: To inform the development of a preconception health (PCH) social marketing plan, we conducted qualitative research with prospective consumers. APPROACH: We present formative findings based on the four Ps of social marketing: product, price, promotion, and place. SETTING: We conducted focus groups with 10 groups of women in Atlanta, Georgia, in fall 2010. PARTICIPANTS: We classified women aged 18 to 44 into five groups based on their pregnancy plans, and then further segmented the groups based on socioeconomic status for a total of 10 groups. METHOD: The focus group guide was designed to elicit participants' responses about the product, price, promotion, and placement of PCH. We used NVivo 9 software to analyze focus group data. RESULTS: Women planning a pregnancy in the future had different perspectives on PCH as a product than women not planning a pregnancy. Barriers to PCH included lack of social support, addiction, and lack of awareness about PCH. Participants preferred to think of PCH behaviors as "promoting" a healthy baby rather than preventing an unhealthy birth outcome. Many women in the focus groups preferred to hear PCH messages from a health care provider, among other channels. CONCLUSION: The results from this research will inform the development of a social marketing plan for PCH and the development of concepts that will be tested with consumers to determine their viability for use in a national campaign.
PURPOSE: To inform the development of a preconception health (PCH) social marketing plan, we conducted qualitative research with prospective consumers. APPROACH: We present formative findings based on the four Ps of social marketing: product, price, promotion, and place. SETTING: We conducted focus groups with 10 groups of women in Atlanta, Georgia, in fall 2010. PARTICIPANTS: We classified women aged 18 to 44 into five groups based on their pregnancy plans, and then further segmented the groups based on socioeconomic status for a total of 10 groups. METHOD: The focus group guide was designed to elicit participants' responses about the product, price, promotion, and placement of PCH. We used NVivo 9 software to analyze focus group data. RESULTS:Women planning a pregnancy in the future had different perspectives on PCH as a product than women not planning a pregnancy. Barriers to PCH included lack of social support, addiction, and lack of awareness about PCH. Participants preferred to think of PCH behaviors as "promoting" a healthy baby rather than preventing an unhealthy birth outcome. Many women in the focus groups preferred to hear PCH messages from a health care provider, among other channels. CONCLUSION: The results from this research will inform the development of a social marketing plan for PCH and the development of concepts that will be tested with consumers to determine their viability for use in a national campaign.
Authors: Merry-K Moos; Anne L Dunlop; Brian W Jack; Lauren Nelson; Dean V Coonrod; Richard Long; Kim Boggess; Paula M Gardiner Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 8.661
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Authors: Allison N Kurti; Ryan Redner; Janice Y Bunn; Katherine Tang; Tyler Nighbor; Alexa A Lopez; Diana R Keith; Andrea C Villanti; Cassandra A Stanton; Diann E Gaalema; Nathan J Doogan; Antonio Cepeda-Benito; Megan E Roberts; Julie Phillips; Maria A Parker; Amanda J Quisenberry; Stephen T Higgins Journal: Prev Med Date: 2018-08-23 Impact factor: 4.018