title: Exploring the roles of family members in women's decision to use postpartum healthcare services from the perspectives of women and health care providers.
abstract: Although the postpartum period is a significant time in a family's life, few studies have addressed the lack of continuity of care and service use during the postpartum period. The aim of this study was to explore the roles of family members in Jordanian women's decision to use postpartum health care services. An exploratory qualitative design was employed to elicit the perspectives of 24 women and 30 health care providers through six focus groups discussions conducted in April 2006. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated to English, and analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. In our study, three roles of family members influencing Jordanian women's decision to use postpartum health care services emerged: supporter role, opponent role, and active participant in care role. Findings supported the need for a family-centered approach when providing postpartum care to enhance positive family roles and limit negative ones to promote continuity of healthcare services use during the postpartum period.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Maternal-Child Health, Faculty of Nursing , The University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan.
authors.forename: Lubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abushaikha
authors.forename: Inaam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khalaf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013637:Tape Recording; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: family members; health care services use; postpartum; qualitative research; roles