Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Prenatal health encompasses overall maternal health during pregnancy. Maternal healthcare policies indicate that healthcare is a basic human right and equally available to all individuals; however, accessing prenatal care is often challenging. These challenges are associated with geographical location, communication and financial barriers, and a lack of cultural considerations. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively contributed to the impact of these challenges in the community, specifically in women's health, maternal and infant health, and family wellbeing. Healthcare policies may be advantageous for dominant groups in society; however, they do not address the hardship experienced by subgroups in the community including Indigenous, immigrants, racial minorities, and women in general. Furthermore, policies are often vague, and present an unrealistic guide for healthcare service without considering on-the-ground issues faced by the community. These factors have contributed to the inconsistency in maternal healthcare systems, and therefore, research is necessary for the community, practice, and policy level. This project will examine common practices of prenatal healthcare around the world to understand how health equity is influences access and use of health services.