title: Experience of risk for pregnant black women.
abstract: This qualitative study explores how risk is determined by black women during pregnancy. A total of 17 women were assessed for risk; 7 were at risk for preterm birth, and 10 were not at risk. These women were interviewed by using an open-ended interview guide. The transcribed interviews were analyzed by using grounded theory. Risk was defined by the provider's assessment of a mathematical probability of the occurrence of preterm labor according to the risk screening tool developed by Creasy. Risk was also defined by black women on the basis of their experience of problematic change, on the counsel of other black women, and on the assessment of the provider. All of the women perceived their pregnancy as a normal process. For some, that perception never changed; for others, it did change. The change was precipitated by the occurrence of an unexpected event, indicated in this study as a critical moment. The critical moment is a dynamic interplay among biophysical changes, patterns of social interaction, and intersubjective reflection. These findings emphasize the black woman's reliance on herself in problematic situations and the significant role of sharing between black women in perpetuating their culture's normative expectations concerning pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Nursing, Honolulu 96822.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors