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- Title
Rethinking engagement: Exploring women’s technology use during the perinatal period through a Kaupapa Māori consistent approach.
- Authors
Gasteiger, Norina; Anderson, Anneka; Day, Karen
- Abstract
Background: Barriers to accessing perinatal health services in New Zealand remain a significant problem, especially for Māori and rural populations. Information technologies and telehealth can facilitate the distribution of health-related information and promote provider engagement during the perinatal period. Aim: This study explored the perceptions and use of technologies by women and their partners who were pregnant or new mothers/caregivers and who utilised Kaupapa Māori perinatal health services. Method: A Kaupapa Māori consistent methodology was applied. An equal explanatory sampling approach was used for recruitment. Conversational interviews were conducted with a total of nine Northland-residing participants of an antenatal programme. Data were analysed thematically. Findings: Four overarching themes emerged from the interview narratives: communication, information, facilitators and barriers. Participants used a range of online tools to access diverse health-related topics and executed autonomous control over the information gained. The credibility and reputability of sources as well as knowledge sharing were valued. Similar technologies were used to communicate with perinatal healthcare providers, including lead maternity carers, and to make in-person appointments. Barriers were related to the technology itself or the experience of using it, whilst ease of access and emotional elements facilitated engagement. Participants were generally satisfied with the technologies. Conclusion: Technology can play an important role in health literacy and minimising barriers to perinatal healthcare, by facilitating the distribution of information and promoting provider engagement. As the research indicated that online tools and services available in Northland are generally adequate for the population served, perinatal healthcare providers should leverage these to further promote engagement with service users. It is crucial that Māori health values such as whānau (extended family structures) and kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face interactions) are incorporated for successful perinatal healthcare delivery via telehealth.
- Publication
New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, 2019, Issue 55, p20
- ISSN
0114-7870
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.12784/nzcomjnl55.2019.3.20-26