Community postpartum care needs assessment and systems development for low income families.
Decreased lengths of stay for U.S. childbirth hospitalization, infant morbidities, repeat adolescent pregnancies, and high no-show rates for postpartum visits among disadvantaged populations suggest barriers to continuity of maternity care. Findings of a survey of maternity health professionals (N = 78) providing postpartum case management with an urban Healthy Start project indicated less tracking and follow-up for postpartum care as compared to prenatal care as well as maternal postpartum health education, social support, and environmental needs. Recommendations included: (a) earlier timing of postpartum visit, (b) community care sites and home visiting, (c) coordinated postpartum maternal and infant care, and (d) increased postpartum psychosocial and environmental services.
Pistella
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Department of Health Services Administration, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. chrisp+@pitt.edu
Synkewecz
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D019090:Case Management; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D012944:Social Support; D014186:Transportation