Title: Impact of health education during pregnancy on behavior and utilization of health resources.

POPLINE Document Number: 108670

Author(s):

Belizan JM
Barros F
Langer A
Farnot U
Victora C
Villar J

Source citation:

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, 1995 Sep;173(3 Pt 1):894-9.

Abstract:

Health education during pregnancy may improve pregnancy outcome. The authors investigated whether reinforcing pregnant women's social network and emotional support, improving knowledge about pregnancy and delivery, and reinforcing adequate health services use could improve pregnancy outcome. The randomized, controlled trial was conducted between January 1989 and March 1991 in Rosario, Argentina; Pelotas, Brazil; Havana, Cuba; and Mexico City, Mexico among pregnant women at risk. The control group was comprised of 1120 pregnant women at risk who received routine prenatal care. 1115 others received a home intervention of four-six visits providing psychosocial support and education about health-related habits, alarm signs, hospital facilities, anti-smoking and anti-alcohol programs, and a reinforcement of adequate health services utilization for the pregnant woman and a support person. The distribution of risk factors and demographic, obstetric, and psychologic characteristics at baseline was similar in both groups. Women in the intervention group showed a statistically significant better knowledge of seven of the nine alarm signs considered and of two of the three labor-onset signs required. No differences between groups were, however, observed with regard to improvement on diet, cigarette and alcohol consumption, maternal physical strain, lactation at forty days postpartum, and health facility use. The intervention therefore failed to show any benefit upon perinatal outcome, health-related behavior, or health facility use.

Keywords:

Latin America
Research Report
Health Education
Pregnancy Outcomes
Behavior
Home Visits
Pregnant Women
Developing Countries
Americas
Education
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Communication
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population