(1073) Pregnancy and postpartum experiences in Chicago neighborhoods with increased adverse maternal outcomes: A qualitative study

Friday, February 10, 2023

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Objective: Black birthing people are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White birthing people. We aimed to better understand the pregnancy and postpartum experiences of Black pregnant and parenting people living in neighborhoods with increased rates of maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) in Chicago, Illinois.

Study Design: This was a rapid qualitative analysis facilitated by an academic-community partnership in Chicago, Illinois using principles of community-based participatory research. Our community partners recruited Black parenting and pregnant individuals who lived in neighborhoods with high rates MMM in the South and West side of Chicago. Four focus groups from February 2021 to October 2021 were led by community health workers and covered pregnancy and postpartum experiences. Transcripts were deductively and inductively coded by paired-analyst teams and thematically analyzed.

Results: This study included 31 participants from eight neighborhoods. Key themes related to pregnancy and the postpartum period included: 1) the need for interpersonal, non-medical support; 2) the use of varied sources of health information simultaneously; 3) the need for a strengthened connection with medical providers; 4) the familiarity with the postpartum period and MMM through lived experiences but the lack of the technical, medical information; 5) the differences in language between birthing people and medical providers and associated gaps in understanding (Table).

Conclusion: Participants described a global need for interpersonal support from family, acquaintances and medical providers. Despite living in the epicenter of the maternal health crisis in Chicago and many experiencing MMM, respondents were unfamiliar with medical terms and used different language to describe pregnancy complications. Further evaluation of these themes may lead to interventions and policies that further address maternal health disparities in a way that resonates with communities.

Primary & Presenting Author(s)

MP
Madeline F. Perry, MD
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Coauthor(s)

TJ
Talibah Johnson, N/A
EverThrive Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, United States
KR
Kirbi Range, MS
EverThrive Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, United States
AT
April Thompson, N/A
EverThrive Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Jecca R. Steinberg, MD, MSc (she/her/hers)
Resident
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Chicago, Illinois, United States
JW
Jena Wallander Gemkow, MPH, RN
AllianceChicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
LM
Lisa Masinter, MD, MPH
AllianceChicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
AB
Andie Baker, MA
EverThrive Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, United States
ML
Marquita Lewis-Thames, PhD
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States