PASHA Program Archive SP01

A Health Care Program for First-Time Adolescent Mothers and their Infants
Ann L. O'Sullivan,Ph.D., F.A.A.N

Originally designed for low-income, unwed teens under 17 years of age, this clinic-based program aims to help first-time mothers prevent repeat pregnancies, return to school, improve immunization rates for their infants, and reduce their use of hospital emergency room services for routine infant care. Several services are offered in the context of a teen baby clinic, including: (1) well-baby care at 2 weeks, and at months 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18; (2) discussion of family planning and referral to a birth control clinic; (3) instruction on parenting skills with a social worker; and (4) informal parenting education through videotapes, slides, and discussions with a nurse practitioner or trained volunteer. A field study and 18-month follow-up assessment of the intervention were conducted with 243 African-American mothers at an urban teaching hospital. Compared to a control group of teens receiving routine well-baby care, program participants experienced significantly fewer repeat pregnancies (12% vs. 28%), reduced their use of the emergency room for routine care, and were more likely to obtain full immunization for their newborns.