Using focus groups and social marketing to strengthen promotion of group prenatal care.

Centering Pregnancy, an innovative group model of prenatal care, shows promise to reduce persistent adverse maternal-infant outcomes and contain costs. Because this innovation requires systemwide change, clinics reported needing support enrolling women into groups and obtaining organizational buy-in. This study used the 3-step social marketing communication strategy to help clinic staff identify key customers and customer-specific barriers to adopting or supporting Centering Pregnancy.

Effects of group prenatal care on psychosocial risk in pregnancy: results from a randomised controlled trial.

Few interventions have succeeded in reducing psychosocial risk among pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine whether an integrated group prenatal care intervention already shown to improve perinatal and sexual risk outcomes can also improve psychosocial outcomes compared to standard individual care. This randomised controlled trial included pregnant women ages 14-25 from two public hospitals (N = 1047) who were randomly assigned to standard individual care, group prenatal care or integrated group prenatal care intervention (CenteringPregnancy Plus, CP+).

Pregnancy as a window of opportunity for HIV prevention: effects of an HIV intervention delivered within prenatal care.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether an HIV prevention program bundled with group prenatal care reduced sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence, repeat pregnancy, sexual risk behavior, and psychosocial risks.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial at 2 prenatal clinics. We assigned pregnant women aged 14 to 25 years (N = 1047) to individual care, attention-matched group care, and group care with an integrated HIV component.

The effects of obesity and weight gain in young women on obstetric outcomes.

We investigated body mass index (BMI) and weight gain among pregnant women (ages 14 to 25) and assessed the relationship of BMI and weight gain on birth outcomes. We performed a secondary analysis of 841 women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial receiving prenatal care in two university-affiliated clinics. Almost half the patients were overweight or obese.

Using clinical classification trees to identify individuals at risk of STDs during pregnancy.

Context: Few studies have used classification tree analysis to produce empirically driven decision tools that identify subgroups of women at risk of STDs during pregnancy. Such tools can guide care, treatment and prevention efforts in clinical settings.

Methods: A sample of 647 women aged 14-25 attending two urban obstetrics and gynecology clinics in 2001-2004 were surveyed in their second and third trimesters.

Group prenatal care and perinatal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether group prenatal care improves pregnancy outcomes, psychosocial function, and patient satisfaction and to examine potential cost differences.

Methods: A multisite randomized controlled trial was conducted at two university-affiliated hospital prenatal clinics. Pregnant women aged 14-25 years (n=1,047) were randomly assigned to either standard or group care.

Social support and social conflict as predictors of prenatal depression.

Objective: To estimate how social support and social conflict relate to prenatal depressive symptoms and to generate a brief clinical tool to identify women at increased psychosocial risk.

Methods: This is a prospective study following 1,047 pregnant women receiving care at two university-affiliated clinics from early pregnancy through 1 year postpartum. Structured interviews were conducted in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Avoidance, anxiety, and sex: the influence of romantic attachment on HIV-risk among pregnant women.

Most unprotected sex occurs in close relationships. However, few studies examine relational factors and sexual risk among high-risk populations. Romantic Attachment Theory states that individuals have cognitive working models for relationships that influence expectations, affect, and behavior.

Group prenatal care and preterm birth weight: results from a matched cohort study at public clinics.

Objective: To examine the impact of group versus individual prenatal care on birth weight and gestational age.

Methods: This prospective, matched cohort study included pregnant women (N = 458) entering prenatal care at 24 or less weeks' gestation; one half received group prenatal care with women of the same gestational age. Women were matched by clinic, age, race, parity, and infant birth date.