Date Approved

1996

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Nursing (M.S.N.)

Degree Program

College of Nursing

First Advisor

Patricia Underwood

Second Advisor

Joyce French

Third Advisor

Theresa Bacon-Baguley

Abstract

The Health Belief Model served as the conceptual framework for this retrospective descriptive study that identified women's perceived barriers and perceived motivators to obtaining prenatal care. A 50 item questionnaire, including both forced-choice and open-ended questions, was administered to 29 women who had delivered a healthy infant within the previous 6 to 8 weeks. The sample was predominantly white (82.2%), {dollar}>{dollar}19 years of age (62.1%), single (62.1%), unemployed (51.7%), and receiving Medicaid insurance (69%). Univariate statistics were calculated for each item. Each item was then compared to the timing of the start of prenatal care. The most important motivators for receiving prenatal care were a belief that prenatal care would help women have a healthy baby (86%), family and friends stating the importance of prenatal care (79%), having a health professional available for reassurance (71%), and being afraid something would go wrong if women did not get care (65%). The most important barrier for a majority of the sample to receiving prenatal care was having to wait a long time in the office or clinic.

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