Seizing the Window of Opportunity: Co-creating an Enhanced Prenatal Care Program to Build Resilience among Socially Vulnerable Populations
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Year 2024
- Principal investigator Astrid Christoffersen-Deb
- Co-lead(s) Stefi Orta, South Community Birth Program
- Host institution University of British Columbia
- Research location Women's Health Research Institute
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Team members
- Stefi Orta, South Community Birth Program
- Aiyanas Ormond, Rise Community Center
- Ann Pederson, BC Women's Hospital
- Caylee Raber, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
- Amy Hamill, Providence Health Care
- Lee Saxell, University of British Columba - Midwifery
- Zoe Hodgson, Ministry of Health
- Vanessa Renteria, Person with Lived Experience
- Mai-Lei Woo Kinshella, University of British Columbia
- Abiola Adeniyi, University of British Columbia
- Sarah Kreim, University of British Columbia
- Vivek Gill, University of British Columbia
Being pregnant can bring extra challenges, especially for people who are struggling financially and socially. It can make them feel stressed and less able to respond to catastrophic events such as pandemics, family illness and climate change.
Caring for this population is especially challenging now with fewer maternity providers in the province. There is currently no specifically designed program for socially vulnerable pregnant people. Around the world, programs supported by Community Health Workers (CHWs) have made it easier for people to get healthcare, help them stay healthy, and improve their social situations, but less is known about how they could be used in BC.
This project unites researchers, providers, CHWs and pregnant individuals with diverse identities, especially multiethnic and low-income, including new immigrants and refugees in Vancouver.
Together, we will explore:
What are the most important areas to include in a CHW-supported prenatal and postnatal program?
What could improve the delivery and satisfaction of the program?
How could success be measured?
We wish to hear what is important to people to create programs that can elevate the experience of pregnancy for those facing challenging social situations.