Community Birth Study Report
Our Voice is Our Power
Star August, along with her previous organization, conducted a comprehensive Community Birth Study. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the unmet needs of community members directly impacted by perinatal health disparities in the southeastern quadrant of Cook County, including the Southside of Chicago.
Study Objectives
- To gain insight into the unmet needs of community members who are directly impacted by perinatal health disparities in the study area of south eastern quadrant of Cook County, including the Southside of Chicago.
- To identify if alternate care models such as midwifery led models of care are accepted or in demand in the south eastern quadrant of Cook Co including the South Side of Chicago.
- To amplify the lived experiences of childbearing people living in the south eastern quadrant of Cook County.
Study Design
Survey
- Data collected August - December of 2022
- Convenience sampling
- 454 birthing persons responded
Focus Groups
- Two focus groups with Black birthing persons in the study area (6-8 persons in each group)
- One focus group with 8 community based birth workers of color in the study area
Inclusion Criteria
- Adult birthing persons 18 years of age or older
- Gave birth at least once after January 1st 2018
- Resides in the study area during time of pregnancy and birth (44 zip codes)
3 areas of study
Birthing People
Birthing People
Community Birth Workers
Community Birth Survey
2 focus Groups
6-8 people each
1 focus group
7 CBWs
Demographics
Identity of Participants by Race/Ethnicity
Place of Birth
Key Findings
1 / Birth Setting
When asked if all settings were equally available and affordable, which birth setting would be most ideal, only 35% replied a hospital would be ideal for them
2 / Provider Preference
82% of survey participants cited that an obstetrician or another type of doctor was their primary provider at birth, however, when asked how open they would be to having a midwife as their maternity care provider for their future pregnancy, roughly 36% noted they would “definitely want” a midwife.
3 / Perceived Racism in Care
70% of respondents completely or mostly agreed with the statement,“I believe providers in Cook County treat white pregnant women with more respect than pregnant women of color.”
4 / Continuity of Care
“I intentionally looked for a black doctor again downtown, close to where I worked in the hospital. And I found a location. But then I found that you don’t see one doctor, you’re on a rotation, which I didn’t like… I can’t develop a relationship for them to be able to get to know me and my body.”
1 / Continuity of Care
“I intentionally looked for a black doctor again downtown, close to where I worked in the hospital. And I found a location. But then I found that you don’t see one doctor, you’re on a rotation, which I didn’t like… I can’t develop a relationship for them to be able to get to know me and my body.”
MEDICAID
Respondents reported having the same provider prenatal to post partum.
Private insurance
Respondents reported having multiple providers throughout pregnancy.
5 / Fear of Hospital Births
“I never understood like, what was the fascination with cutting black women open to get their babies out unless it was dire need. Right. But like, and it hardly ever people that I know is completely healthy going into a hospital to give birth and then they come out and they got cut open. So when I got pregnant, I wanted to have her at home.”
6 / Midwifery Care Options
“They weren’t educated to know midwives are an option. Historical racism against Black midwives took away historical knowledge about midwives. What were the kinds of things that were said about Black midwives: dirty, dangerous, unskilled, etc… A lot of women don’t know the benefits because the hospital system instills so much fear.“
7 / Culturally Congruent Care
More than 50% Black and Indigenous respondents reported having a provider that shared the same racial and ethnic background as them was very important to them
“So I’m thinking, but if, if it’s, if it’s about access, I live in South Shore, I just knew that there was not going to be a African-American OB Gyn that was close or available in my area. I did some searches and I couldn’t find it…”
Survey participants revealed a complexity of factors influencing health care decisions. Participants most often spoke of having to make a choice when the choices they preferred were not available.
Implications
Barriers in Illinois
- Closures of operable OB units
- Maternal health deserts
- Fragmented perinatal care
- Siloed reproductive, abortion, and birth care
- Limited service options for Medicaid recipients
- Limited mental health services
- High rates of policing or family separation of poor people, people of color, and people who struggle with addiction
Read Full PDF Report
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