Project Summary
The project team is working to advance the well-being of Native Hawaiian birthing people and their keiki (children) by reducing morbidity and mortality through weaving the integration of culturally sensitive perinatal care practices into western healthcare settings. If birthing hospitals adopt recommendations generated from this research project into health system staff education and training programs, the team anticipates that culturally responsive approaches to perinatal care within western medicine will facilitate relationship building, trust, and better health outcomes for Native Hawaiian families.
Research Questions/Aims
- What barriers exist to having Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners as part of care teams in contemporary healthcare delivery systems and birthing hospitals?
- What are cultural practitioners' thoughts, feelings, and concerns about being part of perinatal healthcare teams within the contemporary western healthcare delivery system?
Actionability
- Inform decision- and policy-making regarding the integration of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and practices into the medical healthcare system for pregnant and birthing people; and
- Forge/reignite relationships among western and Native Hawaiian traditional birthing practitioners, hospital administrators, insurance company representatives, and other key parties.
Outcomes
Health: Native Hawaiian maternal and neonatal health
Other: culturally responsive care teams made up of traditional and conventional practitioners
Methodology
The project team will conduct a qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with hospital administrators, Native Hawaiian traditional birthing practitioners (pale keiki), and representatives from across the Western healthcare system (e.g., insurance companies) in Hawai'i. Interviews will be conducted using a semi-formal approach, allowing for both structured and open-ended questions which will provide insights into the acceptability, feasibility, and potential approaches for weaving Native Hawaiian cultural practices with standard Western medicine. The team will use an iterative coding process to identify key themes and patterns in the transcribed interview data and any themes will be refined into actionable recommendations for integration of culturally responsive care practices.
