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Perinatal care experiences among racially and ethnically diverse mothers whose infants required a NICU stay

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 413–421 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To learn how diverse mothers whose babies required a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay evaluate their obstetric and neonatal care.

Study design

We conducted three focus groups stratified by race/ethnicity (Black, Latina, White, and Asian women, n = 20) who delivered infants at <32 weeks gestation or <1500 g with a NICU stay. We asked women to assess perinatal care and applied classic qualitative analysis techniques to identify themes and make comparisons across groups.

Results

Predominant themes were similar across groups, including thoroughness and consistency of clinician communication, provider attentiveness, and barriers to closeness with infants. Care experiences were largely positive, but some suggested poorer communication and responsiveness toward Black and Latina mothers.

Conclusion

Feeling consulted and included in infant care is critical for mothers of high-risk neonates. Further in-depth research is needed to remediate differences in hospital culture and quality that contribute to disparities in neonatal care and outcomes.

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Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01HD078565. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Kimberly B. Glazer PhD, MPH, Amy Balbierz MPH & Elizabeth A. Howell MD, MPP

  2. Department of Population Health Science & Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Kimberly B. Glazer PhD, MPH, Amy Balbierz MPH & Elizabeth A. Howell MD, MPP

  3. American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC, USA

    Shoshanna Sofaer DrPH, MPH

  4. Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Shoshanna Sofaer DrPH, MPH

  5. Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Eileen Wang BA & Elizabeth A. Howell MD, MPP

  6. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Elizabeth A. Howell MD, MPP

Authors
  1. Kimberly B. Glazer PhD, MPH
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  2. Shoshanna Sofaer DrPH, MPH
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  3. Amy Balbierz MPH
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  5. Elizabeth A. Howell MD, MPP
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Contributions

SS, AB, EW, and EH contributed to study design, instrument development, data collection, and data analysis. KG assisted with data analysis and drafted the paper. All authors edited the full paper.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kimberly B. Glazer PhD, MPH.

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Glazer, K.B., Sofaer, S., Balbierz, A. et al. Perinatal care experiences among racially and ethnically diverse mothers whose infants required a NICU stay. J Perinatol 41, 413–421 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0721-2

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