After years of achieving only disappointing participation rates in a prenatal program for pregnant adolescents, public health nurses in Brantford, Ontario, evaluated the program and reviewed other prenatal programs to determine how to improve attendance. The results of the evaluation indicated that the adolescents thought the prenatal program was not important or relevant. Using adolescent development theory, a new prenatal program was designed with the help of adolescents. This new program utilizes three teaching approaches: provision of relevant information, offering of information on a "need to know" basis, and provision of problem-solving activities. Topics such as how to deal with the pain of labor; how to care for an infant; and the health hazards of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are presented using small group exercises and games. Problem-solving skills are developed through large and small group discussions, games, puzzles, and activities incorporating movement. The new 10-week program has been in effect since 1993 and has proved to be so popular that additional series have been necessary. Program participants are pregnant teenagers, the fathers of their babies, and/or their labor coaches. Because the classes are scheduled at supper time, they include a hands-on nutritional component in the form of meal preparation. Ongoing evaluations echo the good results revealed by the improved attendance figures and allow the participants to recommend new methods and ideas for the course. One such idea developed into a weekly postnatal drop-in program.

作者：J M, Fedak；D E, Peart；L M, Connolly

来源：The Canadian nurse 1996 年 92卷 1期