Conditions and Dynamics That Impact Maternal Health Literacy among High Risk Prenatal-Interconceptional Women

Suzanne D. Thomas, Sandra C. Mobley, Jodi L. Hudgins, Donald E. Sutherland, Sandra B. Inglett and Brittany L. Ange
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Suzanne D. Thomas: CSRA Nursing Associates, PC, 300 Gardners Mill Court, Augusta, GA 30907, USA
Sandra C. Mobley: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Jodi L. Hudgins: Education and Networking, Enterprise Community Healthy Start, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Donald E. Sutherland: Enterprise Community Healthy Start, The Perinatal Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Sandra B. Inglett: Enterprise Community Healthy Start, College of Nursing, Augusta University, EC-5338, 987 St. Sebastian Way, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Brittany L. Ange: Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics and Data Science, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to describe conditions and dynamics in the lives of high-risk, low-income, Southern United States prenatal-interconceptional women ( n = 37) in a home visiting program that promoted maternal health literacy progression. In the Life Course Health Development (LCHD) Model, conditions were risk and protective factors that impacted health. Dynamics drove the complex, epigenetic relationships between risk and protective factors. Maternal health literacy promotion helped participants address conditions and dynamics to create positive life changes. This research was a retrospective, mixed methods study of women’s service records documenting care from prenatal admission to 24 months post-delivery. The Life Skills Progression Instrument (LSP) was scored to measure maternal health literacy progression. Ethnographic content analysis of visit notes triangulated with quantitative data enabled specificity of critical data elements. Subsequently, a complementary focus group was conducted with the Registered Nurse Case Managers (RNCM). Severe social conditions included devastating poverty, low educational achievement, transient housing, unstable relationships, incarceration, lack of continuous health insurance, and shortage of health care providers. Dynamics included severe psycho-social stressors, domestic violence, lack of employment, low income, low self-esteem and self-expectations, and social/family restraints upon women’s intended positive changes. An important protective factor was the consistent, stable, evidence-informed relationship with the RNCM. Findings from the focus group discussion supported content analysis results.

Keywords: determinants of health; health disparities; health education; health literacy; health interventions; health promotion; social disadvantage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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