Interdisciplinary

Giving Voice to Women: Empirical Studies of Black Women’s Experiences with Health Care
Mangwi N. Ntumngia
Ms. Rebecca P. McClanahan and Dr. Sylvia Macauley, Faculty Mentors

This research project explores the perceptions of women of color at Truman State University pertaining to their experiences with the health care system. It is an interdisciplinary project that uses methodologies from the disciplines of Nursing and History. Four black women (2 African & 2 African-American) were interviewed in depth. The interviews were transcribed and the data were analyzed using the technique of content analysis to reveal emergent themes. Upon completion of the transcription, the informants were contacted to ensure correct representation of their stories. An analysis of the stories resulted in a rich narrative that sometimes intersected with and, at other times, contradicted the existing literature. These narratives provide another opportunity through which black women’s voices on health issues could be heard. Since the interviews were qualitative, the findings are focused on the stories of the four women, and are not generalizations about all black women. The purpose of this project therefore, was to hear the stories and provide an outlet for the lived experiences of women of color with regards to health care.

Keywords: African Women, African/American Wom, black women, women, college women, women and health, health and history, narrative storytelli

Topic(s):Interdisciplinary

Presentation Type: Oral Paper

Session: 51-4
Location: OP 2111
Time: 4:30

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