title: Enhancing resource utilization among pregnant adolescents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA. lflynn@rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budd
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Modelski
mesh_terms: 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