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Prochnow T, Arlinghaus KR, Johnston CA. The Importance of Social Networks for Support and Health Beliefs throughout Pregnancy. Am J Lifestyle Med 2023; 17:46-49. [PMID: 36636401 PMCID: PMC9830239 DOI: 10.1177/15598276221129821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a unique time when health care providers have more regular contact with women. Using this time to more fully understand the social influences at play can provide physicians an opportunity to leverage networks to improve health and wellbeing while stemming the exposure to health misinformation. Advocating for supportive social networks or exercise groups/programs can provide additional support and behavioral reinforcement which is needed for sustained behavior change. In this manner, fostering these networks is likely more beneficial to supporting healthy exercise behavior during pregnancy than education alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Prochnow
- Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Katherine R Arlinghaus
- Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Craig A Johnston
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Comfort AB, El Ayadi AM, Camlin CS, Tsai AC, Nalubwama H, Byamugisha J, Walker DM, Moody J, Roberts T, Senoga U, Krezanoski PJ, Harper CC. The role of informational support from women's social networks on antenatal care initiation: qualitative evidence from pregnant women in Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:708. [PMID: 36114484 PMCID: PMC9479405 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-05030-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early and appropriate use of antenatal care services is critical for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Yet most women in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, do not seek antenatal care until later during pregnancy. This qualitative study explored pregnant women's reliance on social ties for information about initiation of antenatal care. METHODS We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 pregnant women seeking their first antenatal care visit at Kawempe Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Recruitment was done purposively to obtain variation by parity and whether women currently had a male partner. Study recruitment occurred from August 25th 2020 - October 26th, 2020. We used thematic analysis following a two-stage coding process, with both deductive and inductive codes. Deductive codes followed the key domains of social network and social support theory. RESULTS We found that the most important source of information about antenatal care initiation was these women's mothers. Other sources included their mothers-in-law, female elders including grandmothers, and male partners. Sisters and female friends were less influential information sources about antenatal initiation. One of the primary reasons for relying on their own mothers, mothers-in-law, and elder women was due to these women's lived experience with pregnancy and childbirth. Trust in the relationship was also an important factor. Some pregnant women were less likely to rely on their sisters or female friends, either due to lack of trust or these women's lack of experience with pregnancy and childbirth. The advice that pregnant women received from their mothers and others on the ideal timing for antenatal care initiation varied significantly, including examples of misinformation about when to initiate antenatal care. Pregnant women seemed less likely to delay care when more than one social tie encouraged early antenatal care. CONCLUSIONS Educating women's social networks, especially their mothers, mothers-in-law, and community elders, about the importance of early antenatal care initiation is a promising avenue for encouraging pregnant women to seek care earlier in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison B. Comfort
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Alison M. El Ayadi
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Carol S. Camlin
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 1330 Broadway, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612 USA
| | - Alexander C. Tsai
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XCenter for Global Health and Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 722, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Hadija Nalubwama
- grid.11194.3c0000 0004 0620 0548College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Makerere University, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Josaphat Byamugisha
- grid.11194.3c0000 0004 0620 0548College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Makerere University, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dilys M. Walker
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - James Moody
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Duke University, 268 Soc/Psych Building, Durham, NC 27708-0088 USA
| | - Tatyana Roberts
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Umar Senoga
- grid.11194.3c0000 0004 0620 0548College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Makerere University, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Paul J. Krezanoski
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811University of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110 USA
| | - Cynthia C. Harper
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
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