PRENATAL PEER COUNSELING - AN ANSWER TO THE PERSISTENT DIFFICULTIES WITH PRENATAL-CARE FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN

Our intention in this article is to provide the reader with the theore tical framework of prenatal peer counseling. A second article describi ng a prenatal peer program that is functional in the province of Quebe c will be presented subsequently with its outcomes and recommendations . However, before planning the implementation of such a program or eve n assessing its effectiveness, one must understand how peer counseling can be used as an assistive strategy and why it is perceived to be a community approach worth considering with pregnant women from poor soc ioeconomic backgrounds. This approach addresses most problems encounte red when prenatal programs fail to meet the specific needs of these wo men. Principles of the therapeutic community and its derivatives are p ut forward to lay the theoretical foundation of prenatal peer counseli ng. The studies reviewed show that psychosocial variables associated w ith pregnancy outcome and poverty such as anxiety, social support, and self-esteem can be positively influenced through a prenatal peer coun seling program. We strongly recommend that nurses working with low-inc ome families consider prenatal peer counseling as an empowering strate gy for mothers within a given community.