Browsing by Author "Olorunsaiye, Comfort Z."

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    Lessons from COVID-19: a qualitative study on the vaccination decision-making and experiences of black pregnant and postpartum women in the US
    (Informa UK Limited, 2025-04-07) Olorunsaiye, Comfort Z.
    This study investigated the lessons learned from COVID-19 and the vaccination decision-making processes and experiences of Black pregnant and postpartum women in Greater Philadelphia. We interviewed 22 Black pregnant/postpartum women from November 2022 to May 2023, guided by the Public Health Critical Race Praxis. Inductive thematic analysis identified four key themes: the vaccination decision-making process, vaccination experiences, comparisons with other maternal vaccinations, and recommendations for protecting Black pregnant and postpartum individuals from COVID-19. The results highlight the complexity of vaccination decision making during the pandemic, revealing unequal access to information, education and prevention resources, which fueled existing mistrust in the health system among Black communities. However, we also identified opportunities to improve preventative and vaccination messaging through trusted community sources and the application of anti-racist frameworks in the organization and delivery of health services for Black women. These findings underscore the need to address structural barriers to equitable COVID-19 information and vaccine access, to increase vaccine acceptance and promote other maternal vaccinations. As COVID-19 is now managed as an endemic disease, the public health system must adapt approaches to routine vaccination and adopt policies, requiring intentional efforts to ensure equitable access to information and vaccines in Black communities.
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    Perinatal Experiences of Black Women During COVID‐19: A Qualitative Study Guided by the Public Health Critical Race Praxis
    (Wiley, 2025-07-01) Olorunsaiye, Comfort Z.
    Pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for all women; however, the experiences of Black women were particularly affected by intersecting processes and systems such as race, class, gender, socioeconomic status, and healthcare access. The objective of this study was to explore the perinatal experiences of Black women amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a qualitative study. Inclusion criteria were self-identification as a Black woman aged 18-49; experienced at least one pregnancy from March 2020 to May 2023; received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine during the perinatal period; and residence in Greater Philadelphia. Interviews (n = 22) were conducted by trained researchers and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed inductively. Participants were incentivized for their time. The average age of the participants was 33.5 (±6.2) years. Of 28 pregnancies, 22 resulted in live births, two ended in miscarriages, two in abortions, and two participants were pregnant during data collection. Three main themes were identified: (1) emotional impact of COVID-19; (2) experiences of COVID-19 illness during pregnancy and postpartum; and (3) impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal experiences. The perinatal experiences of Black women during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed critical gaps in our maternal healthcare system. Hence, culturally sensitive and targeted crisis preparedness and readiness strategies, such as community-led response teams, for minority groups during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, are warranted.