An Innovative Approach to Teaching Prenatal Nutrition

Abstract

The approach to teaching prenatal nutrition to pregnant women attending maternity clinics in the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Health Department was identified as a problem by the nursing staff. Patient noncompliance with mostly individual teaching of prenatal nutrition resulted in anemia, inappropriate weight gain, and inadequate dietary intake. The research-based principle used to improve patient compliance was that group-teaching of prenatal nutrition is a cost-effective method to facilitate patient compliance with healthy eating habits. A clinical trial of group teaching was presented using a specially prepared slide-and-audio presentation together with a pamphlet and group discussion for reinforcement of nutritional information, in preparation of the teaching aids, attention was given to presenting information on acceptable, inexpensive, adequate nutrition. The pamphlet was written at a third-grade reading level. Fifty percent of the pregnant women who received group teaching showed an improvement in dietary intake 1 month after group teaching. Less staff and time were required for group teaching.