title: The culture of pregnancy and infant care in African American women: an ethnographic study.
abstract: In Hamilton County, Ohio, the infant mortality rate for African American infants in 2002 was 18.1 per 1,000 live births compared with 14.4 for the United States. It is essential to engage community residents and leaders in identifying the underlying cultural factors contributing to this disparity. The purpose of the study was to explore the cultural contexts of prenatal and infant care practices among African American women of childbearing age living in an urban community located in Hamilton County, Ohio. This was an ethnographic community-based participatory research study. Seven participants were recruited for the study. Family support from mothers and sisters in obtaining needed resources related to pregnancy and child care emerged as the central theme. A strong family-based social network was core to the culture of pregnancy and infant care for these women. Nurses should consider developing family-centered interventions to reduce disparity in infant health.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kappesser
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D022143:Family Nursing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology*; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000208:ethnology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012944:Social Support; D016746:Transcultural Nursing; D014186:Transportation; D014505:Urban Population