Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China
BackgroundEffective use of health services by pregnant and postpartum woman (PPWs) is crucial to maternal and child health. Most maternal deaths are attributed to inadequate maternal health services, especially in rural areas. As a vulnerable group, rural PPWs can effectively prevent and reduce mate...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1495667/full |
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| author | Liuchun Xiang Liuchun Xiang Dan Li Junhao Wu Jun Chen Jie Yang Haisong Nie |
| author_facet | Liuchun Xiang Liuchun Xiang Dan Li Junhao Wu Jun Chen Jie Yang Haisong Nie |
| author_sort | Liuchun Xiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundEffective use of health services by pregnant and postpartum woman (PPWs) is crucial to maternal and child health. Most maternal deaths are attributed to inadequate maternal health services, especially in rural areas. As a vulnerable group, rural PPWs can effectively prevent and reduce maternal and infant health risk factors through whole-process health management and ensure the health and safety of mothers and infants. Therefore, improving the utilization rate of rural maternal health services is a key issue that needs to be addressed urgently. This study aimed to explore the influence of peer interaction on the utilization of maternal health services in rural areas and the mediating effect of maternal health service knowledge.MethodsBased on cross-sectional data of 821 PPWs in rural northwest China. This study used propensity score matching (PSM) to analyze the effects of peer interaction (PI) on maternal health service utilization, including maternal system management rate (Y1), prenatal screening rate (Y2), and postpartum visit rate (Y3). In addition, the mediating role of maternal health service knowledge between peer interaction and health service utilization was empirically tested.ResultsThe findings highlight the important role of peer interaction in improving the utilization rate of maternal health services in rural northwest China. The study found that peer interaction significantly improved the maternal system management rate, prenatal screening rate, and postpartum visit rate. At the same time, peer interaction enhances knowledge of maternal health services, which plays a key role in improving maternal health behaviors.ConclusionThrough experience sharing and knowledge exchange among peers, understanding of health services can be enhanced, and positive health behaviors can be promoted. Policymakers and healthcare providers should integrate peer support programs into existing maternal health initiatives and fully use social media and community resources to create interactive platforms for maternal and infant knowledge that combine online and offline. By actively promoting peer interaction and experience sharing, these initiatives can maximize the positive role of peer support, increase the utilization rate of health services, and effectively ensure their safety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb6ba44220694aedaf02cb3ee8ebc985 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb6ba44220694aedaf02cb3ee8ebc9852025-08-20T02:26:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14956671495667Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest ChinaLiuchun Xiang0Liuchun Xiang1Dan Li2Junhao Wu3Jun Chen4Jie Yang5Haisong Nie6Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, ChinaUnited Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, JapanUnited Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, JapanCenter for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, ChinaCenter for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, ChinaCenter for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, ChinaInstitute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, JapanBackgroundEffective use of health services by pregnant and postpartum woman (PPWs) is crucial to maternal and child health. Most maternal deaths are attributed to inadequate maternal health services, especially in rural areas. As a vulnerable group, rural PPWs can effectively prevent and reduce maternal and infant health risk factors through whole-process health management and ensure the health and safety of mothers and infants. Therefore, improving the utilization rate of rural maternal health services is a key issue that needs to be addressed urgently. This study aimed to explore the influence of peer interaction on the utilization of maternal health services in rural areas and the mediating effect of maternal health service knowledge.MethodsBased on cross-sectional data of 821 PPWs in rural northwest China. This study used propensity score matching (PSM) to analyze the effects of peer interaction (PI) on maternal health service utilization, including maternal system management rate (Y1), prenatal screening rate (Y2), and postpartum visit rate (Y3). In addition, the mediating role of maternal health service knowledge between peer interaction and health service utilization was empirically tested.ResultsThe findings highlight the important role of peer interaction in improving the utilization rate of maternal health services in rural northwest China. The study found that peer interaction significantly improved the maternal system management rate, prenatal screening rate, and postpartum visit rate. At the same time, peer interaction enhances knowledge of maternal health services, which plays a key role in improving maternal health behaviors.ConclusionThrough experience sharing and knowledge exchange among peers, understanding of health services can be enhanced, and positive health behaviors can be promoted. Policymakers and healthcare providers should integrate peer support programs into existing maternal health initiatives and fully use social media and community resources to create interactive platforms for maternal and infant knowledge that combine online and offline. By actively promoting peer interaction and experience sharing, these initiatives can maximize the positive role of peer support, increase the utilization rate of health services, and effectively ensure their safety.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1495667/fullpeer interactionpregnant and postpartum womenmaternal health servicepropensity score matchingrural area |
| spellingShingle | Liuchun Xiang Liuchun Xiang Dan Li Junhao Wu Jun Chen Jie Yang Haisong Nie Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China Frontiers in Public Health peer interaction pregnant and postpartum women maternal health service propensity score matching rural area |
| title | Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China |
| title_full | Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China |
| title_fullStr | Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China |
| title_short | Impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest China |
| title_sort | impact of peer interaction on maternal health service utilization in rural northwest china |
| topic | peer interaction pregnant and postpartum women maternal health service propensity score matching rural area |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1495667/full |
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