| Description |
The purpose of this study was to evaluate, describe, and measure the effect of prenatal education among a group of low-income families. One group received preparation for childbirth and parenting (PCP) class and one did not. The classes were offered at a community center with a specifically designed program for high-risk clients. The sample consisted of 58 expectant women, who were at or below the established poverty level for the State of Utah for the year 1978 and $4,500 for a family of four. Data collection continued from May 1, 1978 to January 5, 1979. The Utah Test Appraising Health-IV (UTAH-IV) questionnaire was utilized for the predelivery testing. The 230 questions are arranged in three sets: (1) census data, (2) a set of physical symptoms, (3) common problems confronting normal persons. A consent from was obtained from the participant. During the postpartum period the Utah Tests Appraising Mothers at Home (UTAH-H) was used to score the mother on aspects of mothering and adjustment to becoming a mother. This was done in the mother's home about two weeks after delivery. The scores for the UTAH-IV questionnaire were separated into those related to body systems, to each trimester. In addition, there were two separate sets of questions dealing with the General Adaptation distress and the Cornell Psychiatric Items. These were separated according to the three trimesters of pregnancy and received a numerical score. Also scored were responses to common problems that might have occurred in the previous six to 12 months, and those that had occurred in the previous six months. The scores were also examined according to stress area and each received two scores, for the two different time periods. Illness-proness was assessed by having the women circle symptoms that personally had experienced in the previous 10 years, for a list of 34 possible problems. These answers were given a numerical score. The scores for the various body symptoms and stress areas were compared, untreated to treated, to determine whether a difference was present by means of a T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient tests. Illness-proness was also correlated with the Pearson r test. Income level was submitted to the T-test to determine homogeneity. Outcome variables of delivery not affected by the researcher's possible bias were Apgar, one and five minute scores, weight at birth, gestational age, anesthesia utilized, and type of delivery. Significance at the .05 level was seen with Apgar scores, gestational age, anesthesia, and type of delivery. No significant differences existed for income level, and the mean frequency of education, occupation, parity, and age were very close in numerical values. No significance existed in birth weight between the two groups, however that could have been coding difficulty. The aspects of mother-infant relationship were all significant, except for the psychological aspect; this was a definite problem with the tool utilized as the wording was quite difficult to interpret in the setting of the group of people's homes. The scale for the scoring was limited one to four, and the significance may need to be interpreted as a trend only. These test results suggest that the groups were homogenous in nature, and that differences did occur between the two groups, and the variable of prenatal education should be considered as significant. |
