Madgean Joassaint
Research Mentor(s): Justine Wu
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Michigan Medicine, Family Medicine
Presentation Date: 08/03/2022
Presentation Type: Poster
Poster Number: 8
Session: Session II: 1:30 – 2:20pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Madgean Joassaint; Paul Chandanabhumma, PhD, MPH; Justine Wu, MD, MPH; Murphy Van Sparrentak, MSW; Emily Madlambayan; Lauren Oshman, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Abstract
Background: The Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act requires health care professionals to report suspected newborn drug exposure to Child Protective Services (CPS). A 2018 review of newborn drug testing (NDT) at Michigan Medicine found that 33% of all newborns who underwent drug testing were Black, despite Black infants only comprising 13% of all births at Michigan Medicine. These findings raise concerns about racial disparities in NDT, which can lead to the criminalization and separation of families. Purpose: To understand these racial disparities, we will conduct a qualitative study of patient attitudes and experiences surrounding NDT. Methods: We will interview 15-20 English-speaking participants who received prenatal care at Michigan Medicine and recently delivered a baby at Von Voigtlander Hospital from November 2020 to the present and received newborn drug testing. We will oversample participants with different intersectional identities such as Black women. The interviews will be conducted by telephone or teleconference based on participant preference. We will use Dedoose 9.0.54 to perform a thematic analysis of transcribed interview data with personal identifiers removed. Through sorting and connecting codes, we will advance from descriptive codes to analytic codes and themes. Expected results: The findings of this research study will provide patient-centered experiences surrounding meconium NDT, CPS reporting, and racial barriers to equitable care. The results of this study will be used in conjunction with other findings in the Equity in Newborn Drug Screening Study (ENDS Study) to inform anti-racist and justice-informed care at Michigan Medicine.
