DRUMming up Data: A Maternal and Child Health CBPR Project in Baltimore City

Background: Baltimore City has extremely high rates of infant mortality. Additionally, women in Baltimore City experience high rates of low birth weight, premature births, and poor birth spacing. Focus groups were conducted with women from community-based organizations to determine the barriers for entry into prenatal care and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to family planning. Methods: In-depth interviews and participatory observation were conducted at a service provider's office to determine the unique needs of pregnant or parenting women of color in Baltimore City. Through the use of observations, in-depth interviews and qualitative research, I delved more into the issues in this population and learned from community-based staff and women the situations that arise in regards to primary care, housing, transportation, and childcare, among others. The data was analyzed using ATLAS.ti.5.2, and was coded according to major themes that emerged from the focus group discussions and individual interviews. Results: Barriers to use of health services for women include lack of insurance, lack of social support from partners, lack of knowledge of available services, and competing issues such as employment, other children, and lack of transportation. Conclusions Research findings suggest that there are potentially negative consequences of being in social relationships that lack social support inhibit women from properly spacing their births and adhering to proper prenatal care.