Healthy Mothers…Healthy Babies Program
Goals/Objectives:
The overall purpose of the Healthy Mothers…Healthy Babies Program is to improve health practices of women and their responses to prenatal danger and labor signs so as to reduce infant mortality and low birth weight in Region 4. Four objectives are being addressed: 1) To increase the number of prenatals obtaining early and adequate prenatal care. 2) To provide education on health/lifestyle choices and danger signs to an increased number of prenatals. 3) To provide knowledge and skills in responding to danger and labor signs. 4) To provide basic newborn care knowledge and skills. Our target audience consists of Medicaid eligible pregnant women (adult and teen) in Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion and Marlboro counties.
Collaboration:
Hospitals in at least 4 of the 5 counties provide classroom space for Childbirth and/or prenatal classes. In Florence County, a doctor’s office provides space for classes. Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault and Marion-Dillon Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse provide guest speakers at prenatal classes in Marion and Dillon Counties. Mental Health and the local library in Dillon County also supplement the education of the prenatals. Incentives to encourage attendance are provided by a grant from the March of Dimes. In 3 of the counties, other organizations like churches, sororities and the local hospital supplement the incentive supply. Referrals come from local OB doctors and health department staff.
Summary of Project Activity & Impact:
The Healthy Mothers…Healthy Babies Program consists of a series of prenatal classes taught by nurses or Health Educators, as well as guest speakers. The classes cover topics such as fetal development, maternal health practices, danger signs and infant care. Incentive items are given throughout the series based on number of classes attended and prenatal care compliance. After completing the series, the prenatals will be better equipped at recognizing danger and labor signs and, thus, respond appropriately. Also, they will provide safer care for their infants. These added skills should help reduce poor pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality.
Challenges/Lessons Learned:
The incentive items remain a major drawing card for the HMHB Program and encourage the PNs to continue in the program. A baby tub is given at the ninth class. Compared to the bassinet given in the two years prior, the tub is not as strong a motivator to keep the PNs in the program after the car seat is given. Not as many PNs are coming to nine or more classes as in years past. PNs still ask for the bassinet in Marion County. Florence County has had problems with their PNs actually receiving their incentives from local Stork’s Nest.
Evaluation Methods:
The educators in the program collect data from the prenatal care records that the clients obtain at each doctor visit, self-report, verbal recall and demonstration in the classes, post-tests and written evaluations from the clients. Also, pregnancy outcomes are monitored through either the health department records or follow-up contact with clients. The prenatal care and outcome data will be summarized by the project coordinator and compared to county statistics and prior program data.
Contact Person:
Angela Rogers
Marion Co. Health Department
Region 4 Public Health Office
843-423-8295