Exploring Views of Technology to Inform Maternal and Child Health Interventions for Black Birthing People

Abstract

BackgroundBlack birthing people experience disproportionately higher rates of morbidity and mortality, and poorer infant health outcomes than all other racial and ethnic groups. Statewide in Wisconsin, an alarming disparity exists between Black and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) breastfeeding initiation rates (54% and 87%, respectively). For the last fourteen years, the African American Breastfeeding Network (AABN) has operated in Milwaukee County, where 70% of the state’s Black population lives. AABN’s mission is to improve maternal health and champion breastfeeding equity for Black birthing families. In 2018, AABN received more referrals than could be served by their team of doulas, lactation consultants, and advocates, leading our team to pursue ways to expand their reach through technology-based approaches. With the onset of COVID-19, the need for telehealth support increased drastically, as referrals for AABN services tripled. In this study, we explore the use of technology to support Black birthing families in Wisconsin and beyond, in the hopes of expanding the capacity of organizations like AABN.MethodsA survey was conducted amongst 21 Black women who were pregnant or had given birth in the last year, regarding perceptions of technology. Women were split equally into three focus groups to discuss survey results further and provide context. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and coded for themes.ResultsParticipants were “Likely” to use their phone or the internet to look for general or health-related information, but only “Somewhat Likely” to trust either general or health-related information. Participants were “Somewhat Likely” to trust the information on the phone or the internet as much as their healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, doula) in person. In the focus groups, all participants agreed that the phone or the internet was the first place looked to for information, ahead of consulting a healthcare professional. A comprehensive list of desired features was generated to guide the development of a resource to support AABN.ConclusionsStudy findings support exploring mobile technology-based approaches for breastfeeding support and education. Participants emphasized that to be relevant for them, a telehealth resource would need to: 1) Build meaningful connections between patients and providers, 2) Treat diverse opinions with trust and respect, and 3) Offer multiple sources and formats for information that can be easily cross-referenced.