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Characteristics of Mother-Provider Interactions Surrounding Postpartum Return to Work

From the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

Correspondence: Corresponding author: C. Randall Clinch, DO, MS, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084 (E-mail: crclinch{at}wfubmc.edu)

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 (² 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.

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