Ethnic-specific perceptions of altered control among American women: implications for health promotion programs after pregnancy.

This study describes some ethnically diverse psychosocial and behavioral contexts that influence low-income postpartum women's ability to focus on their health. Content analysis was conducted on data from ethnically concordant focus groups of low-income American Anglo, African American, and Hispanic women 12 to 24 months postpartum. All women described altered sense of "perceived control" as the context contributing to their postpartum health status, but sources and management of this perception varied by ethnicity. Effective health promotion interventions may include self-image building activities, stress management strategies and interventions that include family members but should address unique ethnic-specific contexts of low-income mothers.