https://www.nwhjournal.org/article/S1751-4851(24)00128-4/abstract
Abstract
Objective
To describe perceptions of supportive factors for reducing the risk of maternal mortality among women with substance use disorders (SUDs) in a rural setting.
Design
Qualitative descriptive design.
Setting/Local Problem
Participants were recruited from a rural setting in a U.S. Midwest state where rates of maternal substance use and maternal mortality are high.
Participants
Sixteen participants were recruited from a maternal residential substance use treatment center.
Intervention/Measurements
Semistructured interviews were used during which participants described their perceptions of maternal mortality and their related experiences. We analyzed the transcribed interviews using a basic inductive content analysis to yield themes and subthemes.
Results
We identified three main themes: Social Networks, Respectful Perinatal Care, and Residential Substance Use Treatment.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that nurses and other health care providers should be knowledgeable of resources to increase the social networks of women with SUD, recognize and manage the biases and judgments they may hold against women with SUD, and advocate for and refer women with SUD to residential substance use treatment.