Britni L Ayers1, Nicola L Hawley2, Rachel S Purvis3, Sarah J Moore4, Pearl A McElfish5. 1. Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus, Fayetteville, AR, United States. Electronic address: blayers@uams.edu. 2. Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States. Electronic address: nicola.hawley@yale.edu. 3. Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus, Fayetteville, AR, United States. Electronic address: rspurvis@uams.edu. 4. Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus, Fayetteville, AR, United States. Electronic address: sjmoore@uams.edu. 5. Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Campus, Fayetteville, AR, United States. Electronic address: pamcelfish@uams.edu.
Abstract
PROBLEM: Pacific Islanders are disproportionately burdened by poorer maternal health outcomes with higher rates of pre-term births, low birth weight babies, infant mortality, and inadequate or no prenatal care. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore maternal health care providers' perceptions and experiences of barriers in providing care to Marshallese women, and (2) providers perceived barriers of access to care among Marshallese women. This is the first paper to explore perceived barriers to maternal health care among a Marshallese community from maternal health care providers' perspectives in the United States. METHODS: A phenomenological, qualitative design, using a focus group and in-depth interviews with 20 maternal health care providers residing in northwest Arkansas was chosen. FINDINGS: Several perceived barriers were noted, including transportation, lack of health insurance, communication and language, and socio-cultural barriers that described an incongruence between traditional and Western medical models of care. There was an overall discord between the collectivist cultural identity of Marshallese families and the individualistic maternal health care system that merits further research. DISCUSSION: Solutions to these barriers, such as increased cultural competency training for maternal health care providers and the incorporation of community health workers are discussed.
PROBLEM: Pacific Islanders are disproportionately burdened by poorer maternal health outcomes with higher rates of pre-term births, low birth weight babies, infant mortality, and inadequate or no prenatal care. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore maternal health care providers' perceptions and experiences of barriers in providing care to Marshallese women, and (2) providers perceived barriers of access to care among Marshallese women. This is the first paper to explore perceived barriers to maternal health care among a Marshallese community from maternal health care providers' perspectives in the United States. METHODS: A phenomenological, qualitative design, using a focus group and in-depth interviews with 20 maternal health care providers residing in northwest Arkansas was chosen. FINDINGS: Several perceived barriers were noted, including transportation, lack of health insurance, communication and language, and socio-cultural barriers that described an incongruence between traditional and Western medical models of care. There was an overall discord between the collectivist cultural identity of Marshallese families and the individualistic maternal health care system that merits further research. DISCUSSION: Solutions to these barriers, such as increased cultural competency training for maternal health care providers and the incorporation of community health workers are discussed.
Authors: Pearl A McElfish; Peter Kohler; Chris Smith; Scott Warmack; Bill Buron; Jonell Hudson; Melissa Bridges; Rachel Purvis; Jellesen Rubon-Chutaro Journal: Clin Transl Sci Date: 2015-11-17 Impact factor: 4.689
Authors: Britni L Ayers; Cari A Bogulski; Jennifer A Andersen; Elisabet Børsheim; Pearl A McElfish Journal: Am J Transl Res Date: 2021-12-15 Impact factor: 4.060
Authors: Britni L Ayers; Marilou D Shreve; Allison L Scott; Victoria A Seaton; Kelly V Johnson; Nicola L Hawley; Brett Rowland; Ramey Moore; Pearl A McElfish Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2019-02-22 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Britni L Ayers; Rachel S Purvis; Alexis White; Sheena CarlLee; Jennifer A Andersen; Cari A Bogulski; Pearl A McElfish Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Britni L Ayers; Cari A Bogulski; Lauren Haggard-Duff; Aline Andres; Elisabet Børsheim; Pearl A McElfish Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-09-29 Impact factor: 2.692