Self-advocacy during Pregnancy: HOPE for Georgia Moms and Karna Build Communications Tools
Abstract
HOPE for Georgia Moms is a 5-year, $5 million grant project, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), whose purpose is to decrease maternal mortality and improve health equity in Georgia. This grant was awarded to Northeast Georgia Health System in 2022. The mission of the program is for all birthing people to achieve healthy outcomes and positive equitable experiences (HOPE). HOPE for Georgia Moms engaged Karna, a public health consulting firm, to conduct an environmental scan and interview women to inform development of communications materials. Participants were asked about their perception of general risk and cardiac risk during and after pregnancy, where they find information, and how they perceive their communication with their provider. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted. Almost all the participants shared experiences where they were dismissed or felt not heard by their provider when they described symptoms while pregnant. Women said they had a lot of questions for their provider, but few came to appointments prepared and many did not know what to ask. Communications specialists from Karna are developing web content, infographics, and animations to improve self-advocacy skills of pregnant and postpartum women. HOPE for Georgia Moms also is guided by its statewide Maternal Health Task Force, which developed a 5-year Strategic Plan to address the high maternal mortality rate in Georgia, especially among Black women. Beginning in 2024, relevant resources will be disseminated through a HOPE for Georgia Moms website that focuses on self-advocacy and respectful care. In addition, the website disseminates information to mothers and providers on maternal mental health and cardiac conditions, the clinical conditions most associated with maternal mortality and morbidity in Georgia.
Keywords
Maternal Mortality, Responsive Communications, Formative Research
Self-advocacy during Pregnancy: HOPE for Georgia Moms and Karna Build Communications Tools
HOPE for Georgia Moms is a 5-year, $5 million grant project, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), whose purpose is to decrease maternal mortality and improve health equity in Georgia. This grant was awarded to Northeast Georgia Health System in 2022. The mission of the program is for all birthing people to achieve healthy outcomes and positive equitable experiences (HOPE). HOPE for Georgia Moms engaged Karna, a public health consulting firm, to conduct an environmental scan and interview women to inform development of communications materials. Participants were asked about their perception of general risk and cardiac risk during and after pregnancy, where they find information, and how they perceive their communication with their provider. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted. Almost all the participants shared experiences where they were dismissed or felt not heard by their provider when they described symptoms while pregnant. Women said they had a lot of questions for their provider, but few came to appointments prepared and many did not know what to ask. Communications specialists from Karna are developing web content, infographics, and animations to improve self-advocacy skills of pregnant and postpartum women. HOPE for Georgia Moms also is guided by its statewide Maternal Health Task Force, which developed a 5-year Strategic Plan to address the high maternal mortality rate in Georgia, especially among Black women. Beginning in 2024, relevant resources will be disseminated through a HOPE for Georgia Moms website that focuses on self-advocacy and respectful care. In addition, the website disseminates information to mothers and providers on maternal mental health and cardiac conditions, the clinical conditions most associated with maternal mortality and morbidity in Georgia.
