Prenatal group visit program for a population with limited English proficiency

Area of Science:

• Family Medicine
• Maternal Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Declining number of family physicians providing pregnancy care, especially in underserved areas.
• Need for innovative approaches to support family physician participation in perinatal care.
• Group prenatal visits show promise for enhancing patient education, support, and satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a group prenatal visit program for Japanese women in Michigan, an underserved population.
• To assess the feasibility and cultural acceptability of this program.
• To explore the impact on education, social support, and patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Convergent mixed methods evaluation using surveys and in-depth postpartum interviews.
• Repeated survey administration during 5 group visits.
• Thematic integration of quantitative and qualitative data from the University of Michigan Japanese Family Health Program.

Main Results:

• Culturally adapted Centering Pregnancy format proved feasible and acceptable.
• High participant satisfaction reported for social support, understanding of prenatal care, and preparation for childbirth and newborn care.
• Positive feedback on educational topics and group facilitation; mixed views on clinical assessments and family attendance.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal group visits are feasible and culturally acceptable for Japanese women, offering accessible education and social support.
• Confirms the viability of family physicians delivering group prenatal care.
• Extends the evidence for group prenatal visits among patients with limited English proficiency.