The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43510

Julie A. Becker, PhD, MPH, Women's Health & Environmental Network, 704 N. 23rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, 215-763-0298, jbecker@temple.edu, Andrea Crivelli-Kovach, PhD, CHES, Department of Medical Science and Community Health, Arcadia University, 450 South Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038, and Heidi R Worley, MA, Women's Health, Children's Futures, Maternity Care Coalition, 2000 Hamilton Street, Suite 205, Philadelphia, PA 19130.

Communicating with service delivery providers can present challenges for the consumer, especially low-income, at-risk pregnant women. The purpose of the study was to explore: a) the relationship formed between community health workers (CHWs) and pregnant women; and b) the change over time in a woman's perceived level of empowerment as measured by patient-provider communications. Methods: The researchers used focus groups with CHWs and pregnant women to develop a survey tool that was tested for validity and reliability. The survey examined the constructs of empowerment, defined as self-sufficiency, decision making and self-determination. One of the key measurements of these constructs was through communications with the CHWs and the healthcare providers. A pilot study was conducted through the Maternity Care Coalition (MCC), a community-based organization that identifies at-risk pregnant women and provides case management and family support services through its signature program, the MOMobile. The survey was administered to pregnant women and new mothers within 30 days of requesting services and then 3 months postpartum or 3 months after participating in this program. Results: Eighty low-income women completed the pre and post surveys, 48% African-American and 43% Latina. The postpartum mean score for communication was significantly different from the mean scores of the pregnant women at registration in the MOMobile Program (p=006). Conclusion: The relationship between the CHW and a new mother facilitates communications, strengthens the services delivered and helps to improve the relationship between the mother and their healthcare providers

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

• operationally define the term "empowerment."
• consider one way to measure empowerment relevant to communication.
• identify three ways the relationship with a community health workers helps to facilitate communications for low-income at-risk pregnant women.

Keywords: Communication Effects, Maternal Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.