The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Texas Gulf Coast March of Dimes' mothers' support group - the "BabyBuddy" program. This innovative program was implemented to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in seeking early and regular prenatal care thereby reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates. The major objectives of the evaluation include: 1. Documenting the implementation and operation of the program at the 18 individual sites; 2. Analyzing the impact of the program on the health of the women, their infants and the community; 3. Examining the perinatal health beliefs and healthcare seeking pattern of the women served by the BabyBuddy program. In cooperation with the March of Dimes' BabyBuddy program, the researcher conducted an eighteen-month study to determine the effectiveness of this program, address consistencies or inconsistencies among the sites, and to recommend improvements that will ensure program quality. Interviews from a convenience sample of 200 subjects will be coded and entered into the computer and analyzed. The evaluation will elicit factors related to the subjects' perceptions of pregnancy, prenatal care, delivery, postpartum, child-rearing and healthcare seeking behavior. Standard parametric statistics will be used to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the program's participants and the health of their infants. Recommendations will be made based on the findings of this evaluation.
Learning Objectives: Analyze the impact of the progam on the health of the women, their infants and the community. Examine the perinatal health beliefs and healthcare seeking pattern of the women seved by the program. Document the implemenation and operation of the program at the sites
Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Prenatal Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
Texas Gulf Coast Chapter
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.