Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Randomised-controlled trial of two antenatal education programmes
Jane Svensson1, Lesley Barclay, Margaret Cooke
1Royal Hospital for Women, Locked Bag 2000, Randwick NSW 2031, Sydney, Australia. jane.svensson@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Objective:
to determine whether a new antenatal education programme with increased parenting content could improve parenting outcomes for women compared with a regular antenatal education programme.
Design:
a randomised-controlled trial. Data were collected through self-report surveys.
Setting:
specialist referral maternity hospital in Sydney, Australia.
Participants:
170 women birthing at the hospital. Ninety-one women attended the new programme and 79 the regular programme.
Intervention:
a new antenatal education programme ('Having a Baby' programme) developed from needs assessment data collected from expectant and new parents. One important feature of the programme was the recognition that pregnancy, labour, birth and early parenting were a microcosm of the childbearing experience, rather than separate topics.
Measures:
the primary outcome measure was perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. Worry about the baby, and perceived parenting knowledge, were secondary outcome measures. They were measured before the programme and after birth. Birth outcomes were also recorded.
Findings:
the postnatal perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy scores of women who attended the 'Having a Baby' programme were significantly higher than those who attended the regular programme. Perceived parenting knowledge scores of women who attended the 'Having a Baby' programme were also significantly higher than those who attended the regular programme. Worry scores were lower but they did not reach statistical significant. Birth outcomes were similar.
Implications For Practice:
the 'Having a Baby' programme improved maternal self-efficacy and parenting knowledge. Parenting programmes that continue in the early postnatal period may be beneficial.
