Interview with Dr. Panko about deaf pregnancy outcomes survey
THE DAILY MOTH (ALEX):
Three researchers, working with the University of Michigan and Brandeis University, have started a nationwide survey to gather information on pregnant Deaf and hard of hearing women who gave birth over the past 10 years. They want to understand what their experiences and needs are from navigating the healthcare system. The survey is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Tiffany Panko, who is one of the three researchers. She will go into detail.
THE DAILY MOTH (ALEX):
Can you summarize that research and why you’re doing that?
DR. TIFFANY PANKO:
I’m very interested in reproductive justice, RJ in short. I feel the Deaf community has reproductive injustice because publications show that Deaf women experience more unplanned pregnancies. Why? This might be because they don’t have access to information. Something’s going on. Access isn’t available. Many use birth control that might not be the best fit. There are many options, and of course some might be more effective than others. Deaf women tend to use less effective methods. What’s up? So that’s why I’m working on this. I grabbed the opportunity to work with two great researchers, Mike McKee and Monika Mitra, and learn more about this field. Plus, their research found that Deaf women are more likely to experience early pregnancy or having a baby with low weight. If the mother has diabetes or high blood pressure, that can impact the pregnancy. That’s why we decided to interview women to learn more about their experiences and distribute this survey nationwide to get a better idea of what’s happening.
Alex:
You had interviews with 76 -
Dr. Panko:
-67.
Alex:
- 67 Deaf and hard of hearing women. How did you interview those 67 women, and what are the common issues you’ve seen?
Dr. Panko:
Some were local women in Rochester who I interviewed in person. Others were in other states who I interviewed virtually. I see some common themes, yes, in barriers, and in what led them to have successful experiences. As for barriers, unsurprisingly, some of them had inconsistent communication access. Sometimes they had interpreters, sometimes not, or the issue would lay with the doctors and the quality of information they provided. For example, they might only touch on basic information or not be willing to work with them. That will impact their experiences as a mom. Now, I noticed that good experiences happen when there’s good access, especially if the mom practices self-advocacy such as asking for her birth plan or requesting a specific interpreter. They have to negotiate with hospitals sometimes, but they have to take on that responsibility. That helps with having a good experience.
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Alex:
Can you explain more about the nationwide survey and how people can participate?
Dr. Panko:
The survey is online. You can go ahead and check if you’re eligible. You need to be 18 or older, Deaf or hard of hearing, and have experienced giving birth in the past 10 years. You will be asked about information related to your pregnancy experiences before, during, and after birth and questions about your access to information. The goal is to gain a better understanding of what the underlying conditions are that lead to success or what needs to be addressed. This will guide us to what to do next, and how to educate doctors and encourage more self-advocacy skills.
Alex:
Will your survey include race and ethnicity?
Dr. Panko:
Generally, regardless of hearing status, women of color are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related reasons. That’s very concerning. So of course we have to think about that, too. The 67 women we interviewed didn’t include many people of color, but we are definitely taking that in account, yes.
Alex:
After the surveys, what do you plan to do with the results? What do you hope for?
Dr. Panko:
We will see what kind of information emerges from the data. We will publish this information to emphasize the issues. Many of us are aware of those issues as Deaf and hard of hearing people, but we need to show that information to verify that. Next, we have to educate doctors about how to interact better with patients, and figure out how to address the health care system.
Alex:
Now with the COVID pandemic, is there any kind of specific impact on Deaf pregnancy with COVID?
Dr. Panko:
It can range from no symptoms to very severe. I noticed there’s more risk for that. You also might experience more negative consequences, like early birth. I don’t know about experiences for Deaf people and their pregnancy specifically, but we already have issues of access to pregnant care and now with COVID, what does that look like? That is impacted, yes. They need to figure out how to use an interpreter virtually. Plus, some experience issues with having interpreters because some hospitals limit the number of people allowed in a room or require VRI instead. Those things need to be addressed, and that’s a challenge. These are really tough times.
Alex:
Do you have anything to add?
Dr. Panko:
Yes. Another positive experience came to mind. Some women have an extended support team. For example, some interpreters have experience with delivery rooms, so sometimes they go beyond their role. Of course, with their permission and depending on their relationship, but they can provide more support. Also, doulas who are Deaf or can sign have important roles in giving support.
Alex:
Basically, you encourage Deaf and hard of hearing women to fill out the survey to get more results so you can get more information. Will you share the results? What will that process look like?
Dr. Panko:
We definitely will share this information. The goal is to gather all the data and analyze it, then publish it, and of course explain that information in ASL.
Alex:
Thank you so much, Dr. Panko, for sharing.
If you want to take the survey because you’ve given birth in the past 10 years or know of someone who can take the survey, the link is in the transcript.
Survey Link: https://sardiprogram.com/DeafPregnancyOutcomes/?fbclid=IwAR1Np0IYIAHGZMmMEZo2oDMG0BX85NaJ32qOy3uQJUl3QoLc1pzxgspmxXg