Improving access to services for indigenous childbearing women on a rural reservation: quality improvement project

Abstract

The literature reviewed for this project supports developing and maintaining a resource guide with a directory of community-based care services for childbearing Indigenous women, which is a viable way to facilitate the transition of new moms from the hospital to home during the postpartum period--at the same time, utilizing patient navigators to support the postpartum women and keep the guides updated as changes occur in the community. The target population of Indigenous women on a rural reservation in Montana fits with the recommendations of AIM (2021). The resource guide would provide essential information childbearing Indigenous women need at home. The guide would have resources and information about complications, postpartum, mental health signs, newborn care, and a contact person for each resource. As stated, this QI project aims to increase access to culturally specific community-based postpartum resources for Indigenous moms. Creating and distributing a community-based service resource guide allows new mothers to make self-referral to services and is determined to increase postpartum women's access to appropriate care.