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African Immigrant Women's Maternal Health Experiences in Clarkston, Georgia: A Qualitative Study

Azugbene, Ehiremen Adesua
Cornelius, Llewellyn J
Johnson-Agbakwu, Crista E
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Abstract

Introduction: The maternal health experiences of African immigrant women, their utilization of health care services, and the effects on maternal health have received limited attention in research. This research explored the maternal health experiences of African immigrant women residing in Clarkston, Georgia, and their use of health services.

Methods: Fourteen African immigrant women responded to semistructured interviews. An adapted version of the Andersen health care utilization model explained the predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need factors, which influence the use of maternal health care for African immigrant women.

Results: Findings were presented according to the Andersen health care utilization model. Analysis of the interviews resulted in 11 themes. The themes were as follows: (1) Community social structure, (2) community health beliefs, (3) health organization concerning the use of women, infants, and children, (4) social support at the individual level, (5) limited English proficiency, (6) need for better health education, (7) perception of care, (8) health financing, (9) long wait times and lack of transportation, (10) fear of medication and obstetrical interventions, and (11) impact of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting.

Discussion: Maternal health practices of African immigrant women are impacted by environmental and cultural factors. Public health interventions should be implemented to advance African immigrant women's health care utilization practices through required health education and tailored care, which will translate to positive maternal health experiences.

Source

Azugbene EA, Cornelius LJ, Johnson-Agbakwu CE. African Immigrant Women's Maternal Health Experiences in Clarkston, Georgia: A Qualitative Study. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2023 Dec 12;4(1):603-616. doi: 10.1089/whr.2023.0062. PMID: 38155870; PMCID: PMC10754423.

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DOI
10.1089/whr.2023.0062
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38155870
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Copyright Ehiremen Adesua Azugbene et al., 2023; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License [CC-BY] (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Attribution 4.0 International