Peer-reviewed article
Exploring Healthcare Engagement Among Young Mothers and Their Children in Southern New Jersey: A Descriptive Survey Study.
Jin J, Jones MC, Vaughn NA, Angelone DJ, Wallace LC et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 250 young mothers aged 15-25 in southern New Jersey to understand their engagement with healthcare providers for themselves and their children. Young mothers reported moderately high satisfaction with obstetric and pediatric care, with an average of four visits per year to each type of provider. The research found that healthcare engagement and satisfaction varied by race, ethnicity, education level, and insurance type, suggesting that healthcare systems should tailor services to address these sociodemographic differences.
Key points
- Young mothers in the sample averaged 22 years old with one child and made an average of four visits each to pediatric and OB/GYN providers in the past year
- Satisfaction with care was moderately high for OB/GYN (7.7/10) and pediatrics (8.0/10)
- Provider communication quality was moderately high for both OB/GYN (63.1-70.1/100) and pediatric providers (66.0-69.5/100)
- Visit attendance, satisfaction, and patient-provider communication were all associated with sociodemographic differences in race, ethnicity, education level, and health insurance type
- Young mothers and their children face risks for negative health outcomes including infant and maternal mortality, lower vaccination rates, and reduced breastfeeding and medical visit attendance
Limitations
This is a descriptive survey study without comparison groups or intervention testing, so it cannot determine causation or predict outcomes. The sample is limited to southern New Jersey and may not represent young mothers in other geographic or socioeconomic contexts.
Abstract
Background and aims Young mothers and their children are at risk for negative health outcomes, including infant and maternal mortality, and lower vaccination, breastfeeding, and medical visit attendance rates. However, little is known about young mothers' engagement and experiences with healthcare. In this exploratory quantitative study, we assessed young mothers' engagement, satisfaction, and communication experiences with healthcare providers and explored sociodemographic differences to identify ways providers and healthcare systems can improve care for young mothers and their families. Methods We surveyed 250 young mothers ages 15-25 in southern New Jersey from 2019 to 2022. We conducted a descriptive analysis of participant demographics, healthcare visit attendance, patient satisfaction, and communication with providers in obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) and pediatrics care. We used χ 2, correlation, and generalized linear model analyses to explore sociodemographic differences in healthcare engagement and experiences. Results Young mothers in our sample were 22 years old and had one child, on average. We found that young mothers are engaging with the healthcare system, with an average of four visits each to pediatric and OB/GYN healthcare providers in the past year. Satisfaction with care was moderately high for OB/GYN (M = 7.7; 10-point scale) and pediatrics (M = 8.0). Young mothers also reported moderately high provider communication quality with OB/GYN (range: 63.1-70.1; 100-point scale), and pediatric providers (range: 66.0-69.5). Exploratory analyses found that visit attendance, satisfaction, and patient-provider communication were all associated with sociodemographic differences in race, ethnicity, education level, and health insurance type. Conclusions Our study provides a snapshot of young mothers' healthcare engagement and experiences in OB/GYN and pediatric care, which has been missing from the literature. We interpret our results from an intersectional, minority stress theory-informed lens, focusing on recommendations for future research and changes that systems and providers can make to better serve young mothers and their families.