AN EVALUATION OF AN ADOLESCENT PRENATAL EDUCATION-PROGRAM

Objective: To evaluate a prenatal education and support program for ad olescents. Methods: Quasi-experimental, comparison group design in whi ch historical controls (n=191), geographically close controls (n=312), and resource-similar controls (n=227) were compared with program part icipants (n=184), Results: Program participants were less likely to ha ve inadequate prenatal care utilization than were historical controls (odds ratio=0.39, 95% confidence interval=0.2, 0.7). There were no con sistent effects with regard to maternal weight gain, Program participa nts were significantly less likely to have low-birth-weight births tha n were historical controls (odds ratio=0.48, 95% confidence lnterval=0 .2, 0.9). Conclusion: Effects of the program might be strengthened by focusing on improving maternal nutrition.