ROLE: LEAD UX RESEARCHER & DESIGNER
TIMELINE: 10 WEEKS
TOOLS: FIGMA, INVISION, THE LANDING, ARTBOARD, PHOTOSHOP
the story behind juno
Juno was created as a solution to an academic project given during my UX Bootcamp. The project, formally titled“ Patients First ” prompted us to conduct research and build an interactive digital prototype aimed at improving healthcare for patients.
becoming a UX researcher
Our Problem
The U.S spends more on healthcare than any other high-income country, yet despite its higher spending among 36 OECD member countries, it has the lowest life expectancy. From higher suicide rates to no paid maternity leave for mothers with infants, the U.S falls behind the rest of the world. A major issue plaguing Americans is maternal mortality. Women in the U.S are more likely to die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.
WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE
Pregnant women are often vulnerable and underrepresented, and the downfalls of the healthcare experience should be addressed for those creating future generations.
MY HYPOTHESIS
Pregnant women in the U.S should receive a personalized maternity plan that does not feel rushed and allows them to understand the options they have prior to labor and delivery.
LEARNING ABOUT THE MATERNAL EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S.
the good ol’ facts AKA secondary research
The US has the lowest supply of midwives and OB-GYNS. 12 and 15 providers for every 1000 births.
Many factors are associated with this mistreatment, including race, age, and maternity care provider.
Maternal deaths are preventable but have readily increased in the United States since the 2000s.
In 2018 the US had a ratio of maternal death double that of other high-income countries.
For every 100,000 live births, there were 17 maternal deaths. While in other high-income countries such as Norway and New Zealand, maternal mortality was 3 per 100,000.
One-third of pregnancy-related deaths, including those that count up to 1-year post-birth, occurred during pregnancy. 17% of those deaths occurred on the day of delivery, while 52% occurred in three different periods from 1 to 365 days post-birth. Another overwhelming issue in the US is the shortage of maternity care providers relative to the number of births.
Midwives in many countries are used to assist in normal pregnancies as well as provide care postpartum. They also help transition women to become mothers and adjust to the needs of the baby. In other countries, OB-GYNS operate in hospital-based settings and treat abnormal conditions that arise during pregnancy.
Midwifery care has an evidence-based approach to reducing maternal mortality.
Midwife services are also rarely covered by private insurance plans. Patient needs are seldom addressed when it comes to maternity care in the US. The US also provides limited postpartum home visits. In countries such as Australia, Canada, and France, women are guaranteed postpartum visits to help with physical and emotional recovery.
The Giving Voice to Mother study found inequity and mistreatment of women during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States. One in six women reported experiencing one or more types of mistreatment, from being shouted at to being refused help.
Gaining insight from user interviews.
the user interviews allowed me to further my research in birthing experiences in the US and how they impacted three specific women during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. after finalizing my interview questions and synthesizing my findings here is some of what they had to say.
“I felt rushed choosing a provider and did not receive help creating a birth plan. I was refused my placenta by my doctor. I wish I had more help post-partum but I wasn’t aware of my options.”
— Stay at Home Mom, 30-35
“I did not understand my options when choosing a provider. I felt neglected by my doctor, and was mistreated during labor and delivery. I needed a doula but wasn't aware of my options post-partum.”
— Tailor, 23-28
“I had a planned pregnancy paid for out of pocket. I felt well taken care of by all of my doctors. I also had a smooth labor and delivery. I wish I had more help postpartum while I was healing.”
— NYpd officer, 35-40
My interview findings were then synthesized and compiled into pain points, motivations, behaviors, and themes. This data helped create a deeper understanding of the user's needs and uncover potential solutions to the issue at hand.
