Cost-benefit of a nursing telephone intervention to reduce preterm and low-birthweight births in an African American clinic population

Background. A cost-benefit analysis was performed to estimate the cost-savi ngs obtained from a nursing telephone intervention delivered to pregnant wo men identified as being at risk for preterm or low-birthweight births. Methods. After being screened for eligibility, a total of 1,554 women recei ving prenatal care in a clinic located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina wer e randomized to intervention and control groups, Women in the intervention group received telephone calls from a registered nurse one or two times eac h week from the 24th through the 37th week of gestation. Results. No clinical benefits were realized by Caucasian participants. The intervention reduced preterm and low-birthweight births, and resulted in co st savings, for African-American mothers ages 19 and over, No significant d ifferences were seen in the rates of low-birthweight or preterm births and no cost savings were realized from intervention with women ages 18 and youn ger. Conclusions. A prenatal nursing support intervention in a clinic population of pregnant African American women was cost-beneficial for these adults (g reater than or equal to 19 years of age). (C) 2000 American Health Foundati on and Academic Press.