Improving Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum in St. Lawrence County

Project Overview

This project is a community-based mixed-methods study of perinatal care experiences in St. Lawrence County and Akwesasne. The research team will collect data via surveys and in-depth interviews to understand people’s experiences of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. The findings from this study will serve as a valuable resource for advocacy and perinatal care improvements. Our county has concerning rates for key indicators of maternal infant health such as high rates of cesarean deliveries and preterm birth, inadequate prenatal care, and low breastfeeding rates. While public health provides these basic clinical statistics, we do not know the story behind them. This study will go beyond data collected by public health to measure aspects of care that research has shown to be meaningful to childbearing people and affect health; for example, the level of transparency, empowerment and respect patients felt they received from communication with providers. It will also be the first study in the county to examine the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as they relate to perinatal wellness and experiences with trauma-informed care. The research findings will support ongoing and new community efforts to provide quality perinatal care that is grounded in respect, dignity, and human rights.