Pregnant women with a migration background or a lower socioeconomic status participate less in group care CenteringPregnancy (CP). After discussions and interviews with, among others, women from the target group and providers of CP, recruitment strategies were developed and tested in a number of midwifery practices. In addition to a practice analysis and a training for caregivers, an 'Early Meeting' has been implemented; In this group meeting, themes are discussed that are important in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and women also experience what group care is like. Due to COVID-19, this meeting has been transformed into an online version. Almost all women participated in CP after the had followed an Early Meeting. Data from the electronic registrations of de midwifery care practices showed that participation in CP was especially higher in one of the three practices after the start of the early meeting compared to a period before the implementation of the Early Meeting: also relatively many women with a lower SES and migrant background participated. In particular, organizational and recruitment bottlenecks were mentioned for the Early Meeting. Midwives reported that, due to the Early Meeting, women had more knowledge about the first 12 weeks and were better prepared for the intake consultation at the midwifery practice.

Date Submitted: 2022-05-02