TESTING A MODEL OF SCHOOL NURSE PRENATAL COUNSELING (TEEN PREGNANCY).
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 83
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Guidance and Counseling.
Description: The direct and indirect effects of a school nurse prenatal counseling program on infant birth weight were determined using the technique of path analysis. The sample consisted of 345 pregnant, Black and Hispanic students who participated in the program from September 1984 to June 1989 and gave birth to live infants. Accuracy of data obtained from the school records and from the Illinois state live birth certificate tapes for the years 1985 to 1989 was assumed.

Results revealed that both components of the counseling program, time of first visit to the nurse and number of visits to the nurse, were significantly related to each other and to other variables in the model. Time of first visit to the nurse and time of first visit to the physician were significantly related to number of prenatal care visits. Number of visits to the nurse was significantly related to number of prenatal classes attended. Infant birth weight was not significantly related to any variables in the model.

School nurse interventions must be directed at early identification of pregnant students and continued monitoring of care during pregnancy. The nurses must collaborate with educators in designing alternative methods for the delivery of prenatal education information to pregnant students. School administrators and nurses need to develop innovative school-based pregnancy programs to meet the changing needs of pregnant students. Access to in-school prenatal education needs to be provided.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-12, Section: B, page: 6220.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1992.

School code: 0806.