Being Known: A Grounded Theory Study of the Meaning of Quality Maternity Care to People of Color in Boston.
Sanam Roder-DeWan, Nashira Baril, Candice M Belanoff and 2 others
PMID 34240539WHAT IT FOUND
People of color in Boston described quality maternity care as being seen, heard, and treated as individuals.
Racism and rigid health care rules made them feel unknown, so they did extra work to advocate for themselves.
Key findings
01Participants described being known, meaning being seen, heard, and treated as individuals, as central to quality maternity care.
02Participants linked not being known to racism and to providers using institutional rules and expert power to exclude, control, or coerce them.
03Participants reported doing extra work to increase the chances of a positive maternity care experience.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included 23 self-selected participants from one city, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. Participants recalled births from different times, sometimes many years before the interview. The study was tied to planning a specific birth center, so the questions and interpretation may favor that model. Findings are meanings and strategies, not proof that any practice improves maternal or newborn outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The first author is on the board of the Neighborhood Birth Center, and the second author is the program lead for that project; community members who helped start the center shaped the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that a birth center or being known improves birth outcomes. It reports experiences and themes from 23 people of color in Boston, not tested effects.