The Impact of Community Health Workers on the Self-Determination, Self-Sufficiency, and Decision-Making Ability of Low-Income Women and Mothers of Young Children

Autor/inn/en	Kovach, Andrea Crivelli; Becker, Julie; Worley, Heidi
Titel	The Impact of Community Health Workers on the Self-Determination, Self-Sufficiency, and Decision-Making Ability of Low-Income Women and Mothers of Young Children
Quelle	In: Journal of Community Psychology, 32 (2004) 3, S.343-356 (14 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0090-4392
DOI	10.1002/jcop.20006
Schlagwörter	Empowerment; Mothers; Focus Groups; Health Conditions; Public Health; Pregnancy; Interviews; Program Effectiveness; Social Services; Self Determination; Decision Making; Decision Making Skills; Low Income Groups; Womens Studies; Questionnaires; Community Health Services; Caseworker Approach; Participant Satisfaction; Counselor Attitudes; Parent Attitudes; Predictor Variables; Parent Education; Prenatal Care; Pennsylvania + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Mother; Mutter; Gesundheitswesen; Schwangerschaft; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Social service; Soziale Dienstleistung; Soziale Dienste; Selbstbestimmung; Decision-making; Entscheidungsfindung; Fragebogen; Elternverhalten; Prädiktor; Parents education; Elternbildung; Elternschule; Pränatale Versorgung
Abstract	Pregnant women at high risk for adverse health outcomes can benefit from the services of community health workers. Maternity Care Coalition identifies at risk women and provides links to health care and social services through the MOMobile Program. The purpose of this study was to explore (a) the relationship formed between community health workers and pregnant women, and (b) the change over time in a mother's perceived level of empowerment as measured by self-sufficiency, self-determination, and decision-making skills. A multiphase study was developed to collect data. Focus group interviews with community health workers explored their professional role, their relationship with mothers, and the meaning of decision-making, self-sufficiency, and self-determination as empowerment constructs. A questionnaire was developed to measure each construct at two points in time. A pilot study with 80 women was conducted. Scores for each construct and overall empowerment were calculated and the pre- and post-scores compared to measure change over time. Results of paired t-tests showed significant differences between the postpartum mean score for decision-making (P less than 0.01), self-sufficiency (P less than 0.01), self-determination (P less than 0.001), and overall empowerment (P less than 0.001) and the mean scores on each construct at registration. Results suggest that empowerment can be operationalized in community settings and that increasing an at risk pregnant woman's sense of empowerment may positively impact the overall health of the mother and child. Further research is needed to assess the full impact of this variable as a health status indicator. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10