Centering Birthing Experiences of Women of Color: Protocol for a Qualitative Maternal Near Miss Study

In the United States, Black women are 3-4 times more likely to experience maternal near miss (MNM) or severe maternal morbidity (SMM) than non-Hispanic White women. However, there is a limited narrative-based investigation into Black and other marginalized women's MNM experiences. Additionally, limited extant research on the impact of MNM and SMM on birthing women's families or support persons and health care providers precludes the development of multilevel, patient-centered methods to eliminate these racial or ethnic disparities.

This paper presents the protocol for a study that aims to draw insights from the experiences of racially and socioeconomically diverse mothers with MNM and SMM, their family or support persons (eg, partners), and health care providers to inform legislation, clinical practice, and infrastructure for optimal social support using PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) guidelines. Using a storytelling approach to assess participants' risk factors, document underlying causes, and research clinical causes of MNM, researchers hypothesize these data will inform policies to improve maternal conditions and provide safe and effective prevention and treatment options for birthing persons.

Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) will partner with health services and community-based organizations to promote inclusive participant recruitment for this multiphase study. In phase 1, qualitative interviews were conducted with birthing women (n≤87) who have experienced MNM and SMM. In phase 2, we will conduct qualitative interviews with the following groups: birthing women's partners or support persons (n≤50), health care providers serving birthing women (n≤50), and adults who lost their mothers to pregnancy-related complications (n≤50). In each phase, the total number of participants interviewed will be based on theoretical saturation, that is, the point in iterative data collection and analysis when all important insights have been exhausted from the data already available.

Recruitment for phase 1 started in July 2021. As of March 2024, we have recruited 87 racially and socioeconomically diverse birthing women. Of those, 74% (64/87) self-identified as Black or African American, 20% (17/87) as Hispanic or Latina, and 9% (8/87) as Native American or Alaska Native. Severe preeclampsia accounted for 46% (40/87) of participants' pregnancy-related adverse experiences. Qualitative interviews grounded in narrative-based medicine are ongoing. Recruitment for phase 2 will occur between July 2023 and December 2024. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The findings from this research will deepen the understanding of how severe obstetric complications (1) are experienced by birthing women; (2) are perceived by their partners, support persons, and health providers; and (3) impact the lives of bereaved family and community members.