Health care experiences of low-income South Indian women: using social relationships to negotiate physical, financial and informational constraints

Poppe, Emilia

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/31953 Copy

Description

Title

Health care experiences of low-income South Indian women: using social relationships to negotiate physical, financial and informational constraints

Author(s)

Poppe, Emilia

Issue Date

2012-06-27T21:21:14Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Raffaelli, Marcela
• Viswanathan, Madhubalan

Department of Study

Human & Community Development

Discipline

Human & Community Development

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• India
• Tamil Nadu
• Low-income
• Maternal
• Health care
• Women
• Social relationships
• Social support
• Health literacy
• Grounded Theory

Abstract

India is a developing country that has pledged significant resources toward improving health care access for underprivileged citizens. Maternal well-being is a highlight of the government’s health care initiatives, especially in the state of Tamil Nadu where health care innovations and maternity assistance benefits for low-income women have become a model for the country. Despite improvement on key maternal health indicators over recent years, these health outcomes still lag behind those of more developed nations. In light of this maternal health outcome disparity, it is important to examine factors which may prevent low-income Indian women from accessing health care, as well as those factors which enable them to do so. Understanding such nuances in maternal health care access can impact the design of health system attributes and health initiatives which can better promote maternal well-being. This study draws from health care decision-making and health system frameworks as well as social relationship literature across disciplines to explore how low-income Indian women residing in Tamil Nadu understand and navigate their health care landscape. A convenience sample of 23 low-income women residing in Tamil Nadu, India were identified through snowball recruiting. Of these, 21 were mothers of young children or expecting mothers and two were key informants. Ages ranged from 20-35 years for current and expecting mothers. Study participants were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. Data were analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach. Results show that these women encounter physical, financial, and informational constraints to health care decision-making and health care access. The study further finds that women utilize social relationships to assist in overcoming these constraints.

Graduation Semester

2012-05

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31953

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Emilia Poppe

Owning Collections