Pregnant teenagers: antenatal education research
Mollart, L.
Australian College of Midwives Incorporated Journal 8(4): 26-28
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1031-170X PMID: 8702381 DOI: 10.1016/s1031-170x(05)80054-6Document Number: 263849
Data were collected in 1993 from 46/50 pregnant teenagers at 2 prenatal clinics in New South Wales, Australia, to determine 1) if the health education needs of the teenagers could be better served by providing peer discussion groups, 2) what topics the adolescents considered important, and 3) when and where to convene the program. Data were gathered from questionnaires with 21 open and fixed questions. It was found that 69% of the respondents would like to attend peer discussion groups. The most important topics were hospital procedures (78%), life after the baby's birth (65%), weight gain (58%), minor disorders of pregnancy (56%), sex/exercise (56%), social security information (54%), baby care (45%), alcohol/drugs (39%), and legal information (24%). Most of the respondents wanted the program to begin during the early gestation period and to be held in conjunction with appointments at the prenatal clinic. The fulfillment of the need exposed by this study would be an important primary health care measure that should lead to improved family health and ultimate cost savings. It is recommended that the effects of such a program on prenatal clinic attendance and on maternal and fetal outcomes be studied.