The effects of a prematurity prevention program on births to adolescents

J Adolesc Health Care. 1990 Jul;11(4):335-8. doi: 10.1016/0197-0070(90)90044-3.

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the North Carolina Prematurity Prevention Program in reducing low-birthweight births among adolescents seeking prenatal care at the New Hanover Memorial Hospital obstetric clinic. Modeled on programs developed by Papiernik and Creasy, the program includes three components: staff education, patient identification, and patient education. Thirteen percent of the clinic population is 13-17 years old. The same prematurity prevention protocol is used for both adults and adolescents. Overall, 12% of the 847 women who delivered prior to the program had a low-birthweight infant. Among the 748 women who delivered during the program, the number of low-birthweight infants declined to 9.5%. For mothers 13-17 years old, 14% of the preprogram group had a low-birthweight infant, as did 14% of those in the program. A logistic regression model, controlling for certain risk factors, suggests that the program was not effective in reducing low-birthweight births among these adolescents (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.2, 1.8).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • North Carolina
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence*
  • Prenatal Care*
  • Preventive Health Services* / organization & administration
  • Regression Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors