TELEPHONE SUPPORT FOR PREGNANT-WOMEN - OUTCOME IN LATE PREGNANCY

Aim. The aim of the study was to test the psychosocial benefits of a t elephone support program for pregnant women. Method. Randomised contro lled trial. The study sample were women recruited from an antenatal cl inic and general practice surgeries who were less than 20 weeks gestat ion and either single or in a relationship where the partner was unemp loyed. Women in the intervention group received weekly telephone calls throughout their pregnancy. All women were interviewed initially and at 34 weeks gestation. There were 66 women in the control group and 65 women in the intervention group. Results. The intervention and contro l groups did not differ significantly on the psychosocial measures at baseline. Comparisons at 34 weeks were made by analysis of covariance using the baseline scores. The intervention group at 34 weeks had lowe r stress scores than the control group (means 16.5 vs 18.4, p=0.02), l ower trait anxiety (means 35.2 vs 39.4, p=0.04) and less depressed moo d (means 6.6 vs 8.1, p=0.02). Self esteem was higher for the intervent ion group (means 34.9 vs 32.5, p=0.008). The intervention failed to al ter smoking but the intervention women did report more use of communit y resources (p=0.02) and were less likely to skip meals (p=0.03). Conc lusion. A low cost health promotion program of telephone support durin g pregnancy can significantly improve a woman's psychosocial status du ring pregnancy.