Prenatal education outcomes for pregnant adolescents and their infants using trained volunteers
Jones, M.E.; Mondy, L.W.
Journal of Adolescent Health Care Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 11(5): 437-444
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0197-0070 PMID: 2211278 DOI: 10.1016/0197-0070(90)90092-gDocument Number: 372678
This study evaluated the effects of lessons taught by trained nonprofessional volunteers in community prenatal clinics. Project participants (n = 210) and comparison subjects (n = 189) were pregnant women, aged 18 years or younger. Participants were divided according to those who attended eight or more lessons (high treatment, n = 94) and those who attended fewer lessons (n = 116). A system of rewards for attendance was used. The number of prenatal visits was significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.001), with the high-treatment participants having a significantly greater number of visits than the other groups. The groups differed on gestational age at delivery (p < 0.006), favoring the infants of high-treatment participants; however, only 8% of gestational age variance was attributable to prenatal visits. A significantly greater proportion of high-treatment participants returned for postpartum care (p < 0.011 vs. low-treatment participants, p < 0.002 vs. comparison subjects). Postpartum return was not improved by a hospital visit by a volunteer. Regardless of treatment, most (99%) accepted a contraceptive method at their postpartum visit. The groups did not differ on their return for method check at 3 months. However, a significantly greater proportion of the high-treatment participants returned for an annual family planning evaluation (p < 0.015 vs. low-treatment participants, p < 0.005 vs. comparison subjects). Both the high- and low-treatment participants differed significantly from the comparison subjects on having taken their infants for at least one well-child visit during the first year (p < 0.001 for both tests). The three groups did not differ on return to school within 1 year, reported child abuse/neglect within 2 years, or subsequent recorded pregnancy outcome within 2 years. The project was judged to be cost effective for achieving short-term positive outcomes.