Barriers to Prenatal Care in Rural Virginia
Abstract:
Title: Barriers to Prenatal Care in Rural Virginia
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the understanding of prenatal care and identify why some rural women receive it and others do not. Further objectives included: discovering the importance of prenatal care for women; exploring why a woman either received or did not receive prenatal care; identifying barriers to seeking, attaining, and continuing prenatal care in a rural community.
Design: This study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experience of rural women and their encounter with prenatal care.
Population: A convenience sample of women (n=6) were recruited from a health clinic in rural Virginia. (the mean age of)
Method: Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire and then participated in an individual interview that consisted of eight open ended questions. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and each read line by line to identify statements, concepts, and patterns that were grouped first into meaning units and then as themes that related the lived experience of the participants. Findings: From these interviews three common themes emerged: transportation, cost, and knowledge. Both positive and negative aspects of each were noted by all participants. The amount and type of support received by each participant differed but was found to be a significant variable throughout each theme.
Implications: This study supports current literature that relates the importance of available transportation, financial aid, and access to public health resources for rural populations. Additionally, it revealed the importance of community agencies in rural communities that can provide prenatal care to impact healthy outcomes for mothers and infants.
Barriers to Prenatal Care in Rural Virginia
Title: Barriers to Prenatal Care in Rural Virginia
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the understanding of prenatal care and identify why some rural women receive it and others do not. Further objectives included: discovering the importance of prenatal care for women; exploring why a woman either received or did not receive prenatal care; identifying barriers to seeking, attaining, and continuing prenatal care in a rural community.
Design: This study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experience of rural women and their encounter with prenatal care.
Population: A convenience sample of women (n=6) were recruited from a health clinic in rural Virginia. (the mean age of)
Method: Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire and then participated in an individual interview that consisted of eight open ended questions. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and each read line by line to identify statements, concepts, and patterns that were grouped first into meaning units and then as themes that related the lived experience of the participants. Findings: From these interviews three common themes emerged: transportation, cost, and knowledge. Both positive and negative aspects of each were noted by all participants. The amount and type of support received by each participant differed but was found to be a significant variable throughout each theme.
Implications: This study supports current literature that relates the importance of available transportation, financial aid, and access to public health resources for rural populations. Additionally, it revealed the importance of community agencies in rural communities that can provide prenatal care to impact healthy outcomes for mothers and infants.
