Objective:  In order to better understand and appropriately assist them with accessing and using available healthcare services, researchers and practitioners must first untangle their experiences and determine their perceived barriers to quality health services.

Method:  The data was derived from two focus groups, with ten women in each group. The researchers presented the women in each group with five questions about healthcare.  The women, ages 40-60 years, were randomly selected from a sample of 206 women who had volunteered to participate in a face-to-face interview with nurse researchers. The data were analyzed with MAXQDA 2, Software for Qualitative Data Analysis. 

Results:  The researchers identified several themes from that data that will be discussed in this presentation:  fear of rejection by and flawed communications with healthcare providers, and conflicts between providers and the women about their health practices, beliefs, and compliance. 

Conclusion:  The presentation concludes with implications for practice, health policy, and research.  It also includes recommendations from the African-American women for health providers who are interested in helping to reduce and eliminate morbidity and mortality among this vulnerable population.