Arkansas Medicaid Prenatal
Survey Results 2006

About the Survey

To understand and improve the health care of its recipients, Arkansas Medicaid commissions the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) to conduct a survey focusing on prenatal care. It examines the care Medicaid recipients receive and their perception of the care associated with prenatal care, obstetrical delivery and follow-up well-baby check-ups.

The first prenatal survey was completed 2002, followed by similar surveys in 2004 and 2006. This booklet summarizes the 2006 survey results.

Eighteen hundred Medicaid recipients who had a single completed pregnancy from June 1, 2005, to Nov. 30, 2005, were randomly selected to participate in this survey. Of the initial sample, 1,651 had a reliable address and 592 (35.9 percent) returned a usable survey for analysis.

This survey was adapted from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 1987. As a sponsor of nearly half of all deliveries in Arkansas, the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Medical Services is vitally interested in reducing perinatal mortality and the incidence of low birth weight. We hope the results of this project can facilitate improved prenatal services in our state.

Utilization of Services 2006

Percentage of respondents who:	%
Did not change prenatal care provider	81.2
Had recommended number of prenatal visits	81.5
Traveled less than 30 miles one-way to provider	77.2
Called their prenatal care provider for advice	80.5
Took their child for at least one well-baby check-up	96.8

Doctor gave information concerning the following topics:

Percentage of respondents who reported receiving counseling/information on:	%
Safe medicines	83.6
Diet, exercise and proper nutrition	75.1
Blood test for diabetes	86.6
Blood test for Rh factor	50.9
Blood test for Hepatitis B	53.4
The "baby blues"	60.2
Using a car seat for your baby	59.8

Access and Availability

Percentage of respondents who:	%
Felt finding a provider was "not a problem."	89.2
Found calling for advice during regular office hours "not a problem."	82.6
Received most of their prenatal care at a private doctor's office.	72.8
Received most of their prenatal care at a health department clinic.	6.5
Received most of their prenatal care at a hospital clinic.	20.2

 

Quality and Satisfaction

Survey participants were asked to rate their satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = "worst possible” and 10 = "best possible”). The scores below represent an average of all responses received, along with the percentage of participants who indicated a high degree of satisfaction (8 or above).

	Avg. rating	% 8 or above
Prenatal health care provider	8.8	82.6
Prenatal health care	8.6	79.0
Hospital care	8.4	73.3

 

Prenatal Care Provider and Office Staff

Percentage of respondents who:	%
Felt they were usually or always treated with courtesy and respect.	97.7
Believed their prenatal care provider usually or always listened to them.	92.0
Felt their prenatal care provider usually or always showed respect for what they had to say.	94.5
Felt their prenatal care provider usually or always offered understandable information.	91.5

 

Prenatal Care Provider/ Patient Communication

Courtesy, respect and helpfulness of the medical office staff
94.4 percent of survey recipients said that their prenatal care provider’s office staff “always” or “usually”:

• Treated them with courtesy and respect.
• Was as helpful as they thought that they should be.
• Showed respect for what they had to say.

How well prenatal care providers communicate
91.6 percent of survey recipients agreed that their prenatal care provider "always" or" "usually":

• Listened carefully to them.
• Explained things in a way that they could understand.