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  • Title: Impact of a social support program on teenage prenatal care use and pregnancy outcomes.
    Author: Rogers MM, Peoples-Sheps MD, Suchindran C.
    Journal: J Adolesc Health; 1996 Aug; 19(2):132-40. PubMed ID: 8863085.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: This study evaluated the impact of a resource mothers program (RMP) on prenatal care use, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm birth (PTB). The intervention used paraprofessional women to provide social support to pregnant teenagers through home visiting. METHODS: Data were obtained by linking RMP, health department, and birth certificate data. Outcomes for primiparous teenagers were compared across two main study groups: a RMP group (n = 1,901) and a comparison group from counties in which the program was not offered (n = 4,613). Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of program participation with simultaneous adjustment for age, race, marital status, and previous pregnancies. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Resource mothers program teenagers were more likely to initiate prenatal care early (OR = 1.48; CI = 1.32-1.66) and to receive adequate prenatal care (OR = 1.58; CI = 1.40-1.78) than teenagers in the other counties. The program had no significant effect on LBW, but unmarried teenagers in the RMP group were less likely to have a PTB than unmarried teenagers in the other counties with an OR of 0.81 (CI = 0.70-0.95). These findings were supported by analyses using a second comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Given that PTB contributes heavily to infant mortality, the program's effect on PTB is promising. The Resource Mothers for Pregnant Teens Program (RMP) was launched as a pilot program in 1980 in three South Carolina counties. It has since expanded to operate in 13 rural and three moderately urban counties in the state. The program uses paraprofessional women to provide social support to pregnant teenagers through home visiting. The resource mothers actively recruit primiparous teenagers to the program through community education and outreach activities. The authors evaluated the impact of the RMP on the use of prenatal care, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm birth (PTB). Findings are based upon the multiple logistic regression of data obtained by linking RMP, health department, and birth certificate data. Outcomes for primiparous teenagers are compared between a RMP group of 1901 and a comparison group of 4613 from counties in which the program was not offered. RMP teenagers were more likely to initiate prenatal care early and to receive adequate prenatal care than teenagers in the other counties. The program had no significant effect upon LBW, but unmarried teenagers in the RMP group were less likely to have a PTB than unmarried teenagers in the other counties. These findings were supported by analyses using a second comparison group.
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