Factors Related to Listeriosis Prevention in Pregnant Women: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Study

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dc.contributor.advisorGold, Robert Sen_US
dc.contributor.advisorAtkinson, Nancy Len_US
dc.contributor.authorSaperstein, Sandra Lynnen_US
dc.contributor.departmentPublic and Community Healthen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-02T05:58:02Z
dc.date.available2010-07-02T05:58:02Z
dc.date.issued2010en_US
dc.description.abstractThis research examined factors related to listeriosis prevention in pregnant women, with the aim of improving messages designed for pregnant women. Pregnant women are twenty times more likely than other adults to become infected by <italic>Listeria monocytogenes</italic>. Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or illness in the newborn. Current FDA guidelines for pregnant women advise avoiding foods that pose high risk of <italic>L monocytogenes</italic> contamination: hot dogs or luncheon meats without reheating, soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, refrigerated pâtés, refrigerated smoked seafood, and unpasteurized milk. These were updated in 2003 as our understanding of <italic>L. monocytogenes</italic> contamination in foods has changed. Previous research found that pregnant women were unaware of the guidelines, defensive when made aware, and consuming high-risk foods. The impact of changing guidelines has not been examined. A sequential explanatory mixed methods study was conducted. First, data collected in the second Infant Feeding Practices Study was analyzed to determine whether demographic and health-related factors were related to awareness of <italic>L. monocytogenes</italic> and the consumption of high-risk foods. Next, six focus groups with pregnant women were used to triangulate secondary data analysis findings, examine underlying beliefs related to listeriosis, and explore the impact of changing listeriosis prevention messages. The Extended Parallel Process Model was used as a theoretical framework to guide the groups. The results showed that awareness has increased, with 37% of IFPS II participants aware of <italic>L. monocytogenes</italic>. However, almost 75% reported eating unheated cold cuts. Subgroup differences were identified and fell along income and educational lines. Those with less education and lower incomes were less aware and more likely to consume high-risk foods. Focus group findings suggest that risk and efficacy beliefs affected adoption of the guidelines, consistent with the EPPM. Participants felt that too much emphasis on the potential of advice to change weakens response efficacy. The findings suggest that listeriosis prevention messages should heighten risk perceptions, enhance efficacy perceptions, and suggest, but not belabor, the notion of changing messages.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/10348
dc.subject.pqcontrolledHealth Sciences, Public Healthen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledExtended Parallel Process Modelen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledHealth Communicationen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledListeriaen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledMixed Methodsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledPregnanten_US
dc.titleFactors Related to Listeriosis Prevention in Pregnant Women: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Studyen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

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