Learning needs as perceived by women less than or equal to 16 weeks pregnant

In April 1997, 120 women < or = 16 weeks gestation responded to a survey conducted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit, which identified learning needs of women in their first trimester of pregnancy. This survey was part of a larger community initiative to plan, develop and implement first trimester "Prenatal Health Fairs" in London, Ontario. A listing of topics identified by women as most salient to their learning needs is included. There was a strong emergence of the need to include environmental health issues in the first trimester curriculum. The ranking of topics was unrelated to age, education and employment status with the exception that employed women were more likely to rank coping with discomforts of pregnancy, reasons for regular prenatal care and physical changes of pregnancy as important. Specific information related to reasons for attending a health fair, best times, locations and methods of advertising is addressed.