Respond to the two student discussion post 1-2 paragraphs for each.

Respond to at least two peers with a review and critique of their chosen methods. Minimum of 1-2 paragraphs.

Qualitative Analysis- Rebekah Moses

Rebekah Moses

In a qualitative analysis, one of the strategies of data collection, analysis, and writing can be to hold a narrative interview. A narrative interview or focus group can provide valuable insights into the needs assessment, participatory planning, and evaluation of health promotion and intervention programs (Rabiee, 2004).  In the focus group discussion at Duke Town Calabar, during the interview, it can be identified what the needs of the people are, an evaluation of health promotion and intervention programs. An example of the needs of the focus group can be identified at the beginning of the interview.

Prof: …the year she died was 1916, 100 years ago

Awatt: the daughter who survived is five years old now

No 1:  A pregnant woman I know died three years ago

No 2: .. I have been hearing about such incidents in the hospital

No 4 & 5: We only hear about that

From this conversation, it can be deduced that maternal mortality is a predicament that is affecting this area. Later in the focus group discussion,

 it is shared that the women come to be seen and are given health promotion-type care and advice.

No1: … they come once in a while and I advise them on what to do about hygienic practices and pregnancy.

In the focus group, they also talked about interventions.

No1: The Government has been advertising and advising women to go to ANCs during pregnancies. Churches he too has been encouraging women to. Even me, I have been advising women to go to ANC centers too. I think it is a personal thing. It has gone beyond governments and churches.

Lots of valuable insights and information can be learned and shared from these focus groups. It is important to hear the voice of the community speak up, to know firsthand what is affecting the people they serve and what they believe can help with public health.

References:

Rabiee, F. (2004).  Focus-group interview and Data Analysis - Cambridge. Focus-group interview and data analysis. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0029665104000874

Week Three Discussion

Agus Naidu

An interesting theme from this focus group is trust and how that extends between many parties of maternal health. L notes “I am bitter with the hospital. The nurses treat us as if their uniform confers this authority on them”. This does not just extend to the hospital, both cultural beliefs (from the church and possibly the government) and familial beliefs in the households, all play a role in the safety of the mother and child. Trust can be a signal of previous successes but it can possibly be used as an abuse of entitlement. 

Trust in healthy cultural beliefs can be good thing depending on their circumstance and the type of person who may need it. For pregnancy loss, coping strategies with a combination of positive family, friends, and traditions can help mothers (Van & Meleis, 2006). No 3 however notes  “some churches preach against women going in for CS… can cause a woman to die during labor complications”. Depending on the type of interplay for the region and cultural traditions in relation to government and hospitals, that informs friends and family towards the mother and child which may either improve overall maternal health or diminish it. If trust is present in these groups from others, public health will benefit when the groups following are not lead to malpractice. 

For the future of maternal health, No 1 states “I will encourage her to go to school, learn and come back… it will make her better”. Despite trust and reliance on other groups and institutions, the individuals involved would benefit in personal bases of truth. Educating the self can push back against incorrect judgements and encourage positive conclusions. Trust can be a byproduct of positive conclusions but may not always be the best factor in determining a judgement without foundations of evidence. From a level of research to form conclusions, these focus groups can help direction of themes and where people stand in interconnections such as trust (in this example). Research can also be added upon: for topics as important as maternal health, multiple focus groups with differing opinions and diverse stakeholders could help determine even more answers.  

References

Van, P., Meleis, A. (2006). Coping with grief after involuntary pregnancy loss: Perspectives of African American women.  Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 32(1), 28-39.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0884217502239798

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