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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Lynn M. Deitrick, RN, PhD, Health Studies Unit, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, 17th & Chew Sts., Allentown, PA 18105, 610-402-2293, lynn.deitrick@lvh.com and Patrick Robert Draves, MA, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 110 West Curtis Street, Tampa, FL 33603.
Introduction: The Central Hillsborough Healthy Start (CHHS) Program provides doulas to at-risk pregnant women in inner city Tampa. Doulas, women from the community trained to teach and support women during pregnancy and labor, supplement pregnancy services for at-risk or medically under-served women. Although continuity (one doula before and during delivery) is desired, it is not always achieved.
Purpose: To assess client reaction to doula services that were provided during pregnancy and delivery. To assess the reaction of labor and delivery (L&D) nurses to the presence of the doulas.
Methods: Data were collected from 142 doula-assisted women delivering in either of the two participating hospitals from May-December 1999. A medical anthropologist also interviewed : 18 of the women; 9 doulas; and 10 L&D nurses from both hospitals.
Results: 91% of women credited the doulas with enhancing their birth experience and 87% would use a doula again. Interviews revealed: women found the doula experience to be positive although lack of continuity reduced the level of satisfaction: doulas themselves reported increased personal self-esteem and confidence as parents; L&D nurses reported the doulas generally were competent, helpful and able to fit in.
Conclusions: Doulas appear to be acceptable to patients and L&D staff. Unexpectedly, the neighborhood women who became doulas seem to experience personal benefit as well. CHHS' doula program appears to contribute to improved pregnancy experiences for all studied parties and may represent an effective strategy for improving the experience of vulnerable women. Clincial outcomes are being reported elsewhere.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Evaluation, Maternal Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Central Hillsborough Healthy Start Project, Tampa, Florida
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.