title: The experience of pregnant women with a body mass index >30 kg/m² of their encounters with healthcare professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the experience of women with a pre-pregnant BMI >30 kg/m², in their encounters with healthcare professionals during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using a phenomenological methodology approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face interviews with pregnant women in their own home who were referred from their general practitioner to specialist antenatal follow-up at their local hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen women with pre-pregnant BMI >30 kg/m².
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative in-depth interviews. Participant's experiences of their encounters with health care professionals were recorded verbatim, transcribed and analysed using a phenomenological approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two main themes were identified, an accusatorial response from healthcare professionals and a lack of advice and helpful information on how being obese and pregnant might affect the women's health and that of their child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant women with obesity may experience prejudice from healthcare professionals. These women felt they were treated with a lack of respect, an accusatorial response, and the feeling that information which could have been helpful was not forthcoming. Communication between obese pregnant woman and healthcare professionals appears to be lacking. Improved training in communication skills, less judgemental behaviour and better dissemination of information from healthcare professionals working with pregnant women with obesity are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. christina.lindhardt@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lindhardt
authors.forename: Sune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubak
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mogensen
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: Jan Stener
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Joergensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011287:Prejudice; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014930:Women; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Communication; healthcare professionals; increased body mass index; motivational interviewing; obesity; phenomenology research; pregnancy; prejudice; stigma