Prenatal Emergency Medical Visitation as Predicted by Total Prenatal Visitation, Gestational Age, and Maternal Age
Open Access
Author:
Hamilton, Matthew
Area of Honors:
Psychology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Jenae Marie Neiderhiser, Thesis Supervisor Kenneth Levy, Thesis Honors Advisor Marielena De Araujo-Greecher, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Prenatal Emergency Department
Abstract:
This is a retrospective study using prenatal medical records to examine expectant mothers’ emergency medical visitation (N = 70). Emergency visitation was defined as either directly seeking treatment at an emergency department or hospitalization under 24 hours. Total prenatal medical visitation, timing of prenatal care, and maternal age at delivery were examined as potential predictors. We predicted that emergency department (ED) visitation would be inversely related with total prenatal visitation and maternal age but would be positively correlated with the timing of the first prenatal visit. We found that total visitation, timing, and maternal age were not correlated with prenatal emergency visitation. These findings help to provide insight into how women with an unplanned pregnancy obtain medical care. This vulnerable population shows a higher frequency of medical visitation yet has been understudied.
