Related Experiment Videos
Social support and pregnancy outcome.
1Thomas Coram Research Unit, University of London Institute of Education, UK.
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Social support during pregnancy for women with a history of low-birthweight (LBW) babies led to a small increase in mean birthweight. This intervention also reduced the incidence of very low-birthweight infants.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Social Determinants of Health
- Evidence-Based Interventions
Background:
- Recurrent low-birthweight (LBW) births pose significant public health challenges.
- Socially disadvantaged populations often experience higher rates of LBW.
- Targeted interventions are needed to improve pregnancy outcomes in at-risk women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a social support intervention in improving birthweight among women with a history of LBW.
- To assess the impact of enhanced antenatal care on pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 509 women with a history of LBW babies.
- Intervention group received standard care plus social support (24-h contact, home visits).
- Control group received standard antenatal care only. Outcomes assessed via case notes and postal questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Babies in the intervention group had a mean birthweight 38g higher than controls.
- A reduced number of very low-birthweight babies were observed in the intervention group.
- The study population comprised socially disadvantaged women, with high rates of smoking and previous LBW births.
Conclusions:
- Social support interventions during pregnancy can positively influence birthweight outcomes.
- Targeted support may mitigate risks associated with previous low-birthweight births.
- Further research into scalable social support models for high-risk pregnancies is warranted.