Date of Award

4-2000

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Dr. Ann Miles

Second Advisor

Dr. Vin Lyon-Callo

Third Advisor

Dr. Robert Anemone

Keywords

pre-natal care, infants, infant mortality, physicians and patients

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

A wide disparity between black and white infant mortality rates in Kalamazoo County has prompted investigations by the community. With class-related factors like education and insurance ownership not sufficiently explaining the disparity, this thesis explores, instead, prenatal care as another facet in the problem. Some literature shows a correlation between satisfaction with care and its utilization that is linked to positive pregnancy outcomes (Handler et al. 1998; Lantos 1994; Lazarus 1994). This thesis analyzes middle and lower class African-American women's opinions of prenatal care in Kalamazoo County. During one-on-one interviews, 14 women answered open-ended questions about prenatal care, access to care and care providers. The aspects of care that were important to them included bedside manner, knowledge, knowledgeable care providers, respect, recognition by staff, and ultrasounds. Surprisingly, the middle class women voiced the greatest amount of dissatisfaction with care. Their dissatisfaction stemmed from poor bedside manners and not getting enough information. Lower class women seemed satisfied if they were treated well. While the results of this research do not directly point to a cause for the higher black infant mortality rate, it does point to areas of care that could be examined more closely like the unequal power relationship between a doctor and patient.

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