Enhancing resource utilization among pregnant adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to test the impact of a home visitation intervention on resource utilization and birth outcomes among pregnant adolescents.


METHODS
This study used a quasiexperimental design that included repeated measures and a comparison group to evaluate the intervention.


METHODS
The intervention sample consisted of 83 low-income, pregnant adolescents. The comparison sample was constructed from 216 deidentified electronic birth certificate records. MEASUREMENT AND INTERVENTION: Each month, during their prenatal period, participating teens received 1 home visit by a public health-registered nurse and 1 home visit by a medical social worker for the purpose of assisting teens to access community resources, select a prenatal care provider, and make and schedule appointments. Health education and transportation to medical appointments were also provided.


RESULTS
There were significant increases in resource utilization, including prenatal care appointments, among intervention teens during program participation. Intervention teens made significantly more visits to their prenatal care providers than did comparison group teens. There were no significant differences, however, in mean infant birth weight between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that the intervention may be effective in enhancing resource utilization among pregnant adolescents.
Flynn
Linda
L
Rutgers College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA. lflynn@rutgers.edu
Budd
Marilyn
M
Modelski
Julie
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration; D014186:Transportation