PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Clinch, C. Randall
AU  - Grzywacz, Joseph G.
AU  - Tucker, Jenna
AU  - Walls, Jill K.
AU  - Arcury, Thomas A.
TI  - Characteristics of Mother-Provider Interactions Surrounding Postpartum Return to Work
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2009.05.090010
DP  - 2009 Sep 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
PG  - 498--506
VI  - 22
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/22/5/498.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/22/5/498.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2009 Sep 01; 22
AB  - Background: Many mothers with infants work full-time, yet little is known about communication between women and health care providers regarding returning to work (RTW).Methods: Survey data were obtained from a community-based sample of mothers returning to full-time employment within 4 months postpartum. Bivariate analyses (χ2 and independent sample t tests) and multivariate logistic regressions were specified.Results: Eighty-three percent of mothers believed prenatal providers should discuss RTW, yet only 60% had such a discussion; 58% discussed RTW with their infants’ provider. Black women (odds ratio, 2.6) and women in poverty (odds ratio, 3.6) more often reported having an RTW discussion with a prenatal provider whereas mothers with college degrees or higher (odds ratio, 2.7) more often had RTW discussions with their infant's provider. RTW discussions occurred ≤3 times and were felt to be only somewhat useful. RTW discussions infrequently centered on maternal health (19.5%) or infant health or development (35.5%).Conclusions: Women want providers to initiate RTW discussions. Providers should be aware that race, poverty status, and level of maternal education impact a mother's odds of having an RTW discussion. Additional research is required to further delineate the content of RTW discussions and to determine the clinical value of RTW discussions.