Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39046655›Full record

ArticleMaternal and child health journal2024

What Do Community Doulas Think About the Future of the Doula Workforce?

Nika Darvish, Anu Manchikanti Gómez, Cassondra Marshall, Raichal McDonald, LaToshia Rouse, Lauren Dinsmore, Hannah Hecht, Ruth Berhanu, Grace Rajan, Jaspal Sandhu

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In one paragraph

Article in Maternal and child health journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Racial Minority Doulas' Perceptions of Hospital Team-Based Care.MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing
    Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Nika DarvishSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. nikadarvish@berkeley.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3704-1266
Anu Manchikanti GómezSexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Cassondra MarshallSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Raichal McDonaldGiving Austin Labor Support, Austin, TX, USA.
LaToshia RouseBirth Sisters Doula Services, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Lauren DinsmoreSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Hannah HechtSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Ruth BerhanuSchool of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Grace RajanSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Jaspal SandhuSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionExpanding access to doula care is a key strategy for improving the perinatal experiences and health outcomes of birthing people of color in the U.S. This study investigates the future of maternal healthcare in the U.S. from the perspective of doulas and highlights emerging technology and other opportunities related to strengthening the doula workforce.

methodsThe study recruited community doulas from 12 unique U.S. states, ensuring at least half of the doulas predominantly served communities of color. Doulas (N = 26) participated in semi-structured, futures-oriented interviews that explored their experiences providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic and utilization of technology. A subset of doulas (n = 8) were engaged in interactive workshops where they envisioned alternative futures for doula care and childbirth. Interviews and workshops were analyzed using the Framework Method.

resultsThe COVID-19 pandemic heightened technology use among doulas and increased client accessibility. Social media serves as a unique space for critical community building and client outreach. Doulas reported opportunities to strengthen and mobilize the future workforce: recognizing doula care as a reimbursable service by health insurers, utilizing doula collectives for community practice to decrease burnout, increasing emotional support for doulas, and instilling a chain of learning through mentorship. DISCUSSION: Futures thinking served as a valuable approach for doulas to illuminate the implications of present-day challenges and empowered doulas to design roadmaps toward better futures for doulas and maternal health. Doulas should be engaged as partners to hold a meaningful decision-making role when discussing policies, employment structures, emerging technology, and other aspects of doulas' positioning within the healthcare system.

Indexed as

COVID-19DoulasMaternal Health ServicesAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicPregnancyQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2United StatesChildbirthDoulasHealth equityHealth futuresTechnology

Identifiers

PMID39046655
PMCPMC11420262

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.