Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine how participation in prenatal programs delivered by Ontario public health units influences pregnant women’s pregnancy-related knowledge. Secondary objectives were to examine the socio-demographic characteristics of women participating in these programs and assess program satisfaction.
METHODS: A cohort study was conducted of 511 adult pregnant women who were registered for a prenatal program within one of seven Ontario public health units. Participants completed a pre-program survey, which examined socio-demographic and pregnancy characteristics, and baseline pregnancy-related knowledge. After finishing the program, participants completed a post-program survey investigating pregnancy-related knowledge and program satisfaction. Pregnancy-related knowledge was assessed using the Healthy Pregnancies Knowledge Survey, which captures knowledge within three subtopic areas: healthy pregnancies, healthy lifestyles and breastfeeding.
RESULTS: Participants demonstrated a significant increase in mean knowledge scores, both overall and across each subtopic area. Most participants reported that their program satisfied their questions either mostly or very well across all content areas examined.
CONCLUSION: This study is the first large-scale effort to examine the ability of prenatal programs offered through Ontario public health units to influence clients’ pregnancy-related knowledge. These findings contribute to the evidence base for prenatal education program planning.
Key Words: Prenatal education, health knowledge, attitudes, practice, parents, program evaluation, nursing evaluation research
Mots Clés: éducation prénatale, connaissances, attitudes, pratiques en santé, parents, évaluation de programme, recherche en évaluation des soins infirmiers
Résumé
OBJECTIFS: L’objectif principal était d’examiner comment la participation aux programmes prénatals donnés par les bureaux de santé publique de l’Ontario influence les connaissances des femmes enceintes sur la grossesse. Les objectifs secondaires étaient d’examiner les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des femmes qui participent à ces programmes et d’évaluer leur satisfaction par rapport aux programmes.
MÉTHODE: Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte auprès de 511 femmes adultes enceintes inscrites à un programme prénatal dans l’un de sept bureaux de santé publique en Ontario. Avant le programme, les participantes ont rempli un questionnaire portant sur leurs caractéristiques sociodémographiques, leur grossesse et leurs connaissances préalables sur la grossesse. À la fin du programme, elles ont rempli un questionnaire évaluant leurs connaissances sur la grossesse et leur satisfaction par rapport au programme. Les connaissances sur la grossesse ont été évaluées à l’aide du questionnaire Healthy Pregnancies Knowledge Survey, qui sonde les connaissances dans trois sous-domaines: la grossesse en santé, les modes de vie sains et l’allaitement maternel.
RÉSULTATS: La note moyenne des participantes a augmenté de façon significative, globalement et dans chaque sous-domaine de connaissances. La plupart des participantes ont déclaré que le programme avait très bien ou en grande partie répondu à leurs questions dans tous les domaines abordés.
CONCLUSION: Notre étude est la première intervention à grande échelle qui examine la capacité des programmes prénatals offerts par les bureaux de santé publique de l’Ontario à influencer les connaissances des clientes sur la grossesse. Les constatations de l’étude contribueront aux fondements scientifiques de la planification des programmes d’éducation prénatale.
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from Public Health Ontario through the Locally Driven Collaborative Projects program. The authors thank the following individuals for their collaboration and support with this project: Ronda Manning (Oxford County Public Health); Louise Choquette (Best Start Resource Centre/Health Nexus); Shelley Charbonneau (Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit); Anne van Pinxteren (Durham Region Health Department); Jennifer Hedges and Jeanell Vanbesien (Halton Region Public Health); Katie Jackson (Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit); Joseé Dion-St. Pierre and Shannon Mantha (North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit); Rachel McDougall and Liz Robson (Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health); and York Region Public Health–Reproductive Health Program. In addition, the authors thank Andrew Davis, Neha Ahmed and Meghan Hatcher for their assistance with project coordination, and Dr. David Pearl from the University of Guelph for his helpful discussions regarding study design and analysis.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Public Health Ontario.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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