142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Eight Warrior Mamas: Survivors of Infant Mortality--Empty Arms, Broken Hearts, and Grieving Wombs

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Jennifer Miller, MA , School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Lindsey Eley, MPH , University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Marcy Paul, MA , Department of Behavioral and Community Health/Center for Community Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center - Texas Prevention Institute, Fort Worth, TX
Background: Infant mortality (IM) impacts African Americans at more than twice the rate of Whites. Research shows that racism is disproportionality connected to IM. Little is known about parents’ perceptions about the causes of racial disparity in IM.

Methods: PhotoVoice, a theoretical and methodological framework, emphasizes community participation through visual and aural narratives for the purpose of social change. North Texas parents who experienced an infant loss were recruited using convenience-sampling techniques to participate in a PhotoVoice project to document perceptions and experiences surrounding the loss of their baby. Participants were given digital cameras, met in groups three times to discuss their photos and journal entries. Final photographs and journal entries are featured at a local gallery.

Results: Six identified African American women and two identified White women participated in project. Three themes emerged: 1) Off-putting post-partum care - insensitive healthcare providers; 2) feelings of loneliness, isolation and difficulty in locating support groups and resources to assist; and 3) inappropriate communication from institutional systems - offensive treatment when communicating with insurance providers, child protective services, and medical examiners.

Conclusion: PhotoVoice is an innovative approach to identifying systemic issues that contribute to racial disparity in IM. Findings suggest 1) importance of continuing to raise awareness about IM; 2) need to use innovative methods to assess ones’ experience with IM; and 3) further assess institutional polices’ effect on racial disparities in IM.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate an understanding of mothers' perceptions of infant loss Explain Photovoice as technique to promote social awareness and change

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a co-investgator on this project. I have worked with the principal investigator throughout the process. I am well acquainted with the background, objective, methods, and results of this project. Among my scientific interest has been the identification of racial disaprities that directly impact infant mortality.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4390.0: Poster Session: SIDS & Infant Mortality