title: Teenage mothers of black and minority ethnic origin want access to a range of mental and physical health support: a participatory research approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In high risk, economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, such as those primarily resident by black and minority ethnic groups (BME), teenage pregnancies are relatively more frequent. Such families often have limited access to and/or knowledge of services, including prenatal and post-partum physical and mental health support.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore preferences held by vulnerable young mothers of BME origin and those close to them about existing and desired perinatal health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drawing on a community-based participatory approach, a community steering committee with local knowledge and experience of teenage parenthood shaped and managed an exploratory qualitative study. In collaboration with a local agency and academic research staff, community research assistants conducted two focus groups with 19 members and 21 individual semi-structured interviews with young mothers of BME origin and their friends or relatives. These were coded, thematically analysed, interpreted and subsequently triangulated through facilitator and participant review and discussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite perceptions of a prevalent local culture of mistrust and suspicion, a number of themes and accompanying recommendations emerged. These included a lack of awareness by mothers of BME origin about current perinatal health services, as well as programme inaccessibility and inadequacy. There was a desire to engage with a continuum of comprehensive and well-publicized, family-focused perinatal health services. Participants wanted inclusion of maternal mental health and parenting support that addressed the whole family.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is both ethical and equitable that comprehensive perinatal services are planned and developed following consultation and participation of knowledgeable community members including young mothers of BME origin, family and friends.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Rosalind
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alfafara
authors.affiliation: Starfish Family Services, Livonia, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jonika
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waddell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008824:Michigan; D008913:Minority Groups; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: community-based participatory research; health services; mental health; parenting support; teenage mothers
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