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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Diana Forno-Batres, MD, MPH, Program Planning and Evaluation Consultant, Physicians for Peace, 229 West Bute Street, Suite 200, Norfolk, VA 23510, fornodp@aol.com, fornodp@gmail.com, Rita DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES, Community and Environmental Health, Old Dominion University, 20224 Olde Towne Ct, Smithfiled, VA 23430, Ramón A. López, MD, Director, The Americas, Physicians for Peace, 229 West Bute Street, Suite 200, Norfolk, VA 23510, Pablo Wagner, MD, Sub-Director, Maternity San Lorenzo de Los Minas, Guayubin Olivo No. 1, Vista Hermosa, Carr. Mella K. 7 1/2, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Maria Frontini, MPH, MS, PhD, Epidemiology and Biometry Core, Eastern Virginia Medical School, P.O. Box 1980, Norfolk, VA 23501-1980, and Edward Karotkin, MD, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative assessment was to identify the educational, behavioral, environmental and epidemiological indicators influencing the maternal and child health of communities from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Physicians for Peace, an international non-profit and medical education organization, used the information gathered to adapt a Resource Mother (RM) program implemented in Norfolk, Virginia. BACKGROUND: The maternal, neonatal and infant mortality rates in Santo Domingo are higher (22, 31 and 178 per 1,000 live births, respectively) than US rates (9.3, 7 and 6.8 per 1,000 live births, respectively). The RM program instituted in Norfolk showed lower incidence of several factors among a lay case worker or RM group compared to a control group, including very low birth weight, length of hospital stay, neonatal and infant mortality rates. METHODS: A needs assessment of five communities was completed and included five interviews of community leaders, two focus groups of pregnant teenagers, two focus groups of pregnant women, two focus groups of resource mothers, and one focus group of healthcare providers. All focus groups were audio-taped, transcribed and imported to NVivo (Australia, 2002) for identification of general themes and sub-themes. RESULTS: The qualitative analysis revealed the following themes as leverage points in the maternal and child health of the communities studied: prenatal care, family planning, level of education, domestic violence, abortion, transportation and family support. CONCLUSIONS: The leverage points identified in this qualitative assessment provided the information needed to adapt the RM program in a country with different views and cultural values.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the purpose of the needs assessment of five communities in Santo Domingo.
• List five leverage points in the maternal and child health of the communities studied.
• Recognize the importance of qualitative research in program planning.

Keywords: Infant Mortality, Lay Health Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation