Access in Equity in Maternal Health
Prenatal Knowledge Exchange for Equity in Birthing Experience and Outcomes
Phase 3 (2017-2019)
Primary Investigator:
Dr. Helle Moeller, (Department of Health Sciences - Background in Anthropology, Nursing)
Co-investigators:
Dr. Manal Alzghoul (School of Nursing - Background in Nursing)
Dr. Pamela Wakewich (Emeritus Sociology and Women's Studies- Background in Anthropology, Sociology)
Dr. Pauline Sameshima (Canada Research Chair in Arts Integrated Studies - Background in Education)
Dr. Megan Bollinger (Physician, Maternal Health Meno Ya Win, Soux Lookout)
Kristin Colosimo (Public Health Nurse, Thunder Bay District Health Unit)
Community Partner/Consultant:
Sherry Pelletier (Beendigen Nurse supporting maternal and infant health and wellbeing)
Research Team:
Abigale Kent (Graduate Student, Project Coordinator, Department of Health Sciences, 2018-2020)
Julia LeFrancois King (Social Justice Program graduate student, 2019-2020)
Barbara Benwell (Social Justice graduate student, 2017-2019)
Nancy Gupta (Research Assistant, MPH (c) Department of Health Sciences, MD (India), 2017-2018)
Mackenzie Churchill (MPH, Midwifery student, 2017-2018)
Mehdia Hassan (Social Justice graduate student, 2017-2018)
Funder:
Women's Xchange. Women's College Hospital. Funded: 2016-2018
The Project
The goal of the project is to understand, from women’s perspectives, the experiences, needs, preferences, and challenges pregnant women in Northwestern Ontario face in relation to pre-conception, pre, peri- and post-natal knowledge and education.
The objective of the project is to improve the health and well being of all women of reproductive age in Northwestern Ontario. The project will help provide equitable access to the prenatal knowledge, education, and services women across Northwestern Ontario need and want to optimize their birthing experiences and outcomes.
Recognizing the increasingly diverse populations in Northwestern Ontario this project responds to the following research
questions:
- What preconception and pre-natal knowledge and information about pregnancy and birthing facilitate a positive pregnancy and birthing experience?
- How do women prefer to learn about/obtain information about preconception and prenatal health, pregnancy, and birthing?
- What facilitates or hinders women’s access to the knowledge/information about preconception and prenatal health, pregnancy, and birthing they feel they need?
- How do women who have participated in prenatal programs evaluate their pregnancy and birthing experience and outcome?
- How do women who have not participated in prenatal programs evaluate their pregnancy and birthing experience and outcome?
