NEW-JERSEY SCHOOL NURSES PERCEPTIONS OF SCHOOL-BASED, PRENATAL NUTRITION EDUCATION

This study used formative evaluation to identify channels and barriers to providing ongoing dietary guidance to pregnant teens in New Jersey . In phase one, 14 health and social service professionals participate d in a focus group or interview about nutrition services for pregnant teens. Participants identified school nurses as potential providers of early and continuous dietary counseling to pregnant teen-agers, but d elineated barriers to establishment and effectiveness of school-based, prenatal nutrition education. In phase two, school nurses were survey ed to assess their interest in, and perceptions of barriers to, provid ing nutrition education to pregnant adolescents. Two-hundred fifty-thr ee nurses (71%) returned completed questionnaires. Results indicated t hat a significant proportion perceived a need for, and were interested in providing, nutrition education to pregnant students. Results from this formative research ore being used to guide development of a schoo l-based nutrition education program for pregnant teen-agers in New Jer sey.