Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Design a Patient and Practitioner-Centered Group Prenatal Care Model

• Published in: Health promotion practice Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 895 - 902
• Main Authors: Lessard, Lauren, Oberholtzer, Christy, Shaver, Amber, Newel, Gail, Middleton, Ellen, Kuppermann, Miriam, Fuchs, Jonathan, Garza, Mary A., Rand, Larry, Capitman, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-09-2023; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Childbirth & labor; Childrens health; Clinical outcomes; Community; Community based action research; Community health care; Community research; Flexibility; Health education; Health services; Health status; Infant mortality; Infants; Intervention; Low income groups; Maternal & child health; Maternal and infant welfare; Maternal characteristics; Medical personnel; Mortality rates; Mothers; Participatory research; Physicians; Poverty; Pregnancy; Premature babies; Premature birth; Prenatal care; Research design; Social isolation; Social support; Women; Womens health; social determinants of health; program planning and evaluation; maternal and infant health; community intervention; minority health; health research; community-based participatory research
• ISSN: 1524-8399; 1552-6372
• DOI: 10.1177/15248399221098015

In response to disproportionately high rates of infant mortality and preterm birth among women of color and women in poverty in Fresno County, California, community and academic partners coordinated a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project with local residents. Social isolation and stress, inaccessible prenatal care, and dissatisfaction with care experiences were identified as leading predictors of poor birth outcomes. The PRECEDE-PROCEED framework was used to lead the CBPR effort that resulted in the development of a model of group prenatal care, named Glow! Group Prenatal Care Program (Glow! Program). Group prenatal care (GPNC), which focuses on pregnancy health assessments, education, and peer support, has the potential to address the health and social priorities of women during pregnancy. As a result of the employed CBPR process and the extensive participation from stakeholders, this modified GPNC model responds to the unique needs of the at-risk community members, the agencies aiming to improve maternal-child health experiences and outcomes, and the prenatal care providers offering it to their patients. The methods from this study can be applied in the design and implementation of community-based health care interventions. Returning to community partners throughout the design, implementation, and evaluation phases underscored that health care interventions cannot be designed in silos, and require flexibility to respond to factors that promote improved maternal and infant outcomes, which affect the end goal for the intervention.