Rethinking engagement: Exploring women’s technology use during the perinatal period through a Kaupapa Māori consistent approach

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 healthrelated 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.

Exploring the ways communication technology is used by midwives and pregnant women/people: An integrative review

“…The overarching theme identified across all studies was connection between pregnant women and midwives. The ability to connect using technology enabled pregnant women to access healthcare services; thereby, it has reduced barriers to healthcare (Gasteiger et al, 2019;McCarthy et al, 2017). The use of communication technology, however, was not always viewed positively when it related to issues of privacy or where there were concerns with having the skills to access and use the technology.…”

“…The use of communication technology, however, was not always viewed positively when it related to issues of privacy or where there were concerns with having the skills to access and use the technology. Three out of the five studies reviewed identified these issues as concerns (Dalton et al, 2014;Gasteiger et al, 2019;Shroder et al, 2018).…”

“…Connection was the overarching theme across all five studies. Four types of communication technology were described: texting, video calling, social media (or online discussion forums) and phone calls or use of mobile phones (Dalton et al, 2014;Forti et al, 2013;Gasteiger et al, 2019;McCarthy et al, 2017;Shroder et al, 2018). In three studies, texting was found to be easy to use and an efficient way for women to contact their midwife when changing appointments, requesting health information or to ask questions (Forti et al, 2013;Gasteiger et al, 2019;Shroder et al, 2018).…”

“…Three studies identified how use of communication technology increased access to healthcare information or contact with a maternity provider (Gasteiger et al, 2019;McCarthy et al, 2017;Shroder et al, 2018).…”

“It's more personal if you can have that contact with a person”: Qualitative study of health information preferences of parents and caregivers of children with obesity in New Zealand

“…for Māori patients, in gout management in primary care (Rolston et al, 2018), perinatal care (Gasteiger et al, 2019), and type 2 diabetes management via the Green Prescription programme (Williams et al, 2017). Our findings provide participant-centred evidence within community child health that can help inform the development of digital infrastructure such as applications to support healthy lifestyle programmes via health promotion and health literacy.…”