UTILIZING FOCUS GROUPS TO DETERMINE BARRIERS TO PRENATAL CARE ADEQUACY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS

ABSTRACT

The history of health care delivery systems have not shown satisfactory effectiveness in reducing the gap between proven health care techniques, and their application in the larger community. Effectiveness of communication in healthcare delivery is a major obstacle in the transfer of health care to the high health risk community population, and as that obstacle is diminished, there will be a concomitant decrease in the morbidity measures of the larger community. For example, the initiation of prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy is necessary to aid in the prevention of infant morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, an even greater cause for concern lies with African American adolescents. Although adolescent pregnancy has decreased over the last decade for all Americans, the African American birth rate remains two times greater than that of Caucasians. Since this group is more at risk than those of general population, interventions must be developed to eradicate this disparity.