Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-22-2013
Publication Title
BIoMed Central Pregnancy and Childbirth
Abstract
Weight stigma is pervasive in Western society and in healthcare settings, and has a negative impact on victims' psychological and physical health. In the context of an increasing focus on the management of overweight and obese women during and after pregnancy in research and clinical practice, the current studies aimed to examine the presence of weight stigma in maternity care. Addressing previous limitations in the weight stigma literature, this paper quantitatively explores the presence of weight stigma from both patient and care provider perspectives. Study One investigated associations between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and experiences of maternity care from a state-wide, self-reported survey of 627 Australian women who gave birth in 2009. Study Two involved administration of an online survey to 248 Australian pre-service medical and maternity care providers, to investigate their perceptions of, and attitudes towards, providing care for pregnant patients of differing body sizes. Both studies used linear regression analyses.
DOI
10.1186/1471-2393-13-19
Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation
Mulherin, Kate; Miller, Yvette D.; Barlow, Fiona Kate; Diedrichs, Phillippa C.; and Thompson, Rachel, "Weight Stigma in Maternity Care: Women’s Experiences and Care Providers’ Attitudes" (2013). Dartmouth Scholarship. 1262.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/1262
Included in
Health Services Research Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Women's Health Commons
