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Hopes and dreams : learning from the perceptions of "high-risk" pregnant Aboriginal women

Date

2000

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

ORCID

Type

Degree Level

Masters

Abstract

A qualitative study was conducted to identify perceptions of high-risk pregnant Aboriginal women during pregnancy. Five women were interviewed by the researcher who is also Aboriginal. Each woman was a client of the Healthy Mother Healthy Baby pregnancy outreach program in Saskatoon, and was considered to be at high-risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. Interviews were conducted utilizing a phenomenologically-based model of research, from which emerged themes or commonalities of thought between each woman during this time of their lives. The themes were discussed with Aboriginal women elders who worked with Aboriginal families in Saskatoon, for further insight and discussion of the findings. The themes were collated under one general theme called `hopes and dreams.' Each theme included the interest of these women to `want to' move ahead with their lives in the area of improving their relationships with their offspring, their partners, and within themselves. Though each women talked about these areas as being important, all except one did not manifest them in their lives. The implications for the delivery of health care services include the need for health care workers to gain further understanding of the positive motivational factors of high-risk pregnant Aboriginal women that work towards achieving long-term positive behavioural changes, and thus reduce the risks of poor pregnancy outcomes. Other recommendations from this research for health promotion programs include the development of a partnership with the urban Aboriginal community in delivering culturally-based services and teachings to complement the educative and supportive model of program delivery.

Description

Keywords

Health and well-being in pregnancy, Pregnancy outreach programs, Pregnancy health, High risk pregnancies - Aboriginal women, Prenatal risk factors

Citation

Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Department

Community Health and Epidemiology

Program

Community Health and Epidemiology

Advisor

Part Of

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DOI

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