The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48143

Elizabeth Parietti, EdD, RN, CNM¹, Barbara Caldwell, MSN, RN, CN¹, Theodore Barrett, MD², and Winsome Parchment, MD². (1) School of Nursing, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 65 Bergen Street, Room 1141, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07107, 973-972-3876, parietes@umdnj.edu, (2) Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University Hospital, UMDNJ, 185 South Orange Avenue - E506, Newark, NJ 07103

Risk Reduction Pregnancy Program

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Risk Reduction Pregnancy Program, interventions designed to assist substance abusing pregnant women to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce Boarder Baby nursery days. The program, at University Hospital, Newark, NJ, was offered by the Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health to address the increasing problems of preterm delivery, antenatal and neonatal complications, and 'boarder baby' (longterm nursery) length of stays (LOS) in this medically fragile inner city population.

Outreach Workers (OW) identified and recruited potential subjects to the program and motivated them to attend prenatal care (PNC) appointments and substance abuse treatment services. The OWs also engaged the subject and family/significant others in discussions about placement of the child after birth. Incentives of transportation, food vouchers, and infant gifts were used to retain subjects in the program. A random sample of PNC patients who did not receive the OW services was included as a control group. Data for the program ('00 - 01) was collected using retrospective chart analysis (N=170). Interval level variables, including birthweight, boarder baby LOS, medical LOS, total LOS, GA at delivery, GA first visit, number of PNC visits, number of OW contacts, and number of positive toxicology screens were analyzed between groups using t-tests. Discrete variables, including nursery level, risk indicators, infant discharge disposition, mother's HIV status, and substance abuse treatment were compared between groups using chi-square analysis. Results indicate a statistically significant difference between the boarder baby LOS and in the interventional and the control group.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop an understanding of the perinatal substance abusing behaviors of inner city women.
• List five factors contributing to increased Boarder Baby length of stays (LOS).
• Identify factors contributing to successful case management of a high-risk antepartal population.
• Describe the effective utilization of peer Outreach Workers as liaisons between high-risk pregnant women and healthcare providers.

Keywords: Pregnancy Outcomes, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University Hospital, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
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.