Traditional versus Centering: Which model of care leads to improved outcomes for Latina pregnant and parenting teens and their infants?

An evaluation of a pregnant and parenting teen program serving primarily Latina clients in Oakland, California employed a randomized control design to determine whether a group medical and case management service delivery model (intervention) leads to greater improvements in outcomes for clients and their infants compared to the traditional model of care with a single provider (comparison). Data was collected on 239 clients (175 comparison; 65 intervention) in an electronic clinic health information database, as well as through written surveys administered to clients upon enrollment in prenatal care, at two-weeks post-partum, and at six and 12-month follow-up. Preliminary study results have begun to demonstrate that the intervention model contributes to more positive outcomes. Intervention group clients (47%) reported higher levels of condom use to prevent disease during their post-partum visits than comparison clients (38%). While both groups reported a decreased priority placed on educational attainment from enrollment to follow-up, a greater decrease was documented in the comparison group. Slightly more infants of intervention clients (86%) received age appropriate immunizations than comparison clients (81%). Nearly all clients (90%) reported high levels of satisfaction with the care they received overall, although intervention group clients' satisfaction was slightly higher (93% intervention vs. 89% comparison). These findings hold important relevance to improving programming for teenage childbearing, which leads to negative educational, economic, health, and developmental outcomes. Findings will be particularly relevant to those providing services to Latina teens, who have the highest birth rate among the major racial/ethnic groups in the United States.