Informing Equity-Oriented Approaches to Postpartum Care Following Severe Maternal Morbidity Events: A Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Public Health
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) involves life-threatening complications with lasting impacts.
• Affected individuals often experience fragmented care and unmet emotional needs.
• Equity-oriented approaches are crucial for addressing SMM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather data on SMM experiences from patients and healthcare providers.
• To inform the development of postpartum care pathways, guidance, and education.
• To enhance equity-oriented postpartum care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study using purposeful sampling.
• Semi-structured interviews with individuals with SMM, family members, and healthcare professionals.
• Data collection across Ontario, Canada (2024-2027).

Main Results:

• Study protocol outlines data generation from lived experiences.
• Findings will guide co-development of practice guidance and care pathways.
• Intervention aims to boost provider confidence in delivering equity-oriented care.

Conclusions:

• Actionable insights will strengthen postpartum care systems.
• The study aims to reduce health inequities for those recovering from SMM.
• Focus on supportive, responsive, and evidence-informed care models.