Listening to Mothers in California: results from a population-based survey of women's childbearing experiences
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Author(s):
- Joynt, Jen, author
- Contributor(s):
- California HealthCare Foundation, issuing body. National Partnership for Women & Families, issuing body. Yellow Chair Foundation, issuing body.
- Publication:
- [Oakland, Calif.] : California Health Care Foundation, September 2018
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Health Care Surveys Mothers Postnatal Care Pregnant Women Prenatal Care African Americans Amniotomy Analgesia, Epidural Analgesia, Obstetrical Anxiety Asian Americans Breast Feeding Cesarean Section Coercion Depression -- therapy Depression, Postpartum -- therapy Doulas European Continental Ancestry Group Healthcare Disparities Hispanic Americans Insurance, Health Kangaroo-Mother Care Method Labor Pain -- drug therapy Labor, Induced Medicaid Nurse Midwives Obstetrics Oceanic Ancestry Group Patient Participation Personal Autonomy Pregnancy State Government Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Humans California United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- With half a million babies being born in California every year, childbirth is the number one reason for hospitalization in the state. Yet little is known about women's childbearing experiences, outcomes, and preferences. Listening to Mothers in California survey aims to fill these knowledge gaps and identify opportunities for improving the experience and outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. Listening to Mothers in California is the first fielding of the national Listening to Mothers survey at a state level and in Spanish. It included California women who gave birth to a single infant in a hospital in 2016. Listening to Mothers in California: Results from a Population-Based Survey of Women's Childbearing Experiences reports selected findings from this survey and highlights important differences by race, ethnicity, and insurance coverage (Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, pays for nearly half of California births). Key findings: (1) While the vast majority of women used an obstetrician for their prenatal care and births, over half of women said they would definitely want (17%) or would consider (37%) a midwife for a future pregnancy. (2) Three-quarters of California's childbearing women agreed that childbirth is a process that should not be interfered with unless medically necessary. Black and Latina women, and women with Medi-Cal coverage held this belief most strongly. (3) Four in 10 women reported that a health professional tried to induce their labor (starting labor before it started on its own). Three- quarters of women who felt pressured by a health professional to have their labor induced had the intervention. (4) Only 1 in 7 women with a prior cesarean had a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), despite nearly half of women with repeat cesareans reporting interest in VBAC. Women with prior cesareans reported that providers disproportionately focused discussions and recommendations on having a repeat cesarean birth. (5) One in 5 California women reported symptoms of anxiety, and 1 in 10 reported symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Across race/ethnicity groups, Black women were on the high end of the range for symptoms of anxiety and depression, during and after pregnancy.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (48 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101744556 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101744556