A Qualitative Assessment of Post-Partum Screening After Gestational Diabetes, St. Louis, 2017-2018

This study is a qualitative examination via in-depth interviews and focus groups of barriers and facilitators to receiving postpartum diabetes screenings. The target population is women aged 18-40 who had a history of gestational diabetes within the prior 10 years and received Medicaid during pregnancy. Perspectives from patients, health care providers, and health care staff were solicited for the study. Overall, the goal was to learn about the patient, provider, and staff experience after a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes in order to understand how health centers may better support patients receiving recommended follow-up screenings and preventing postpartum type 2 diabetes. All healthcare providers and staff were recruited from federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Missouri and provided care for women during and after pregnancies with gestational diabetes. Patients were recruited via health care centers or other community sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Interview and focus group questions assessed understanding and education provided around gestational diabetes diagnosis and postpartum screening/prevention, as well as prominent barriers and facilitators to gestational diabetes management, postpartum diabetes screening, and diabetes prevention.