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Parent and staff focus groups to address NICU racial inequities: "There's radical optimism in that we're in a different time and we're not doing it alone"

Medicine and Health

Parent and staff focus groups to address NICU racial inequities: "There's radical optimism in that we're in a different time and we're not doing it alone"

K. L. Karvonen, O. Smith, et al.

This study reveals the complex local mechanisms behind racial inequities in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and proposes actionable recommendations from community members. Conducted by a team of researchers including Kayla L. Karvonen, Olga Smith, and Monica McLemore, this vital research sheds light on power dynamics, dehumanization, and societal inequities, paving the way for meaningful change in NICU practices.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
This study aimed to understand local mechanisms of racial inequities and generate recommendations from community members on promoting racial equity in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Four semi-structured focus groups with follow-up audio diaries were conducted with racially diverse NICU parents and staff. Six themes emerged, highlighting power dynamics, interpersonal and institutional dehumanization, and societal inequities as mechanisms of racial inequities. Recommendations included power redistribution, space and staff transformation to promote humanism, and harm mitigation through peer support and resource allocation. Focus groups are a promising strategy for identifying interventions to address these inequities.
Publisher
Journal of Perinatology
Published On
Jul 18, 2024
Authors
Kayla L. Karvonen, Olga Smith, Brittany Chambers-Butcher, Patience Afulani, Tameyah Mathis-Perry, Khuzaima Rangwalla, Monica McLemore, Elizabeth E. Rogers
Tags
racial inequities
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
community recommendations
power dynamics
dehumanization
societal inequities
interventions
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