title: Understanding prenatal health care for American Indian women in a Northern Plains tribe.
abstract: Early and regular prenatal care appointments are imperative for the health of both the mother and baby to help prevent complications associated with pregnancy and birth. American Indian women are especially at risk for health disparities related to pregnancy and lack of prenatal health care. Previous research has outlined a basic understanding of the reasons for lack of prenatal care for women in general; however, little is known about care received by pregnant women at Indian Health Service hospitals. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 58 women to better understand the prenatal health experiences of American Indian women from one tribe in the Northern Plains. Several themes related to American Indian women's prenatal health care experiences were noted, including communication barriers with physicians, institutional barriers such as lack of continuity of care, and sociodemographic barriers. Solutions to these barriers, such as a nurse midwife program, are discussed.
authors: Health Disparities Research Center, Sanford Research/USD, 2301 East 60th Street North, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA. Jessica.D.Hanson@sanfordhealth.org
authors: Jessica D
authors: JD
authors: Hanson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012306:Risk; D013023:South Dakota; D013637:Tape Recording; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult