Adequacy of prenatal care of urban high school students

S P Chen1, S Telleen, E H Chen

  • 1University of Illinois, College of Nursing, Department of Public Health Nursing, Chicago 60612.

Relationships of five selected variables to the adequacy of prenatal care of pregnant students in urban public high schools were studied. These five variables were: the age of the baby's father, mother's education, parity, living arrangement, and functional areas of support. From 1986 to 1989, a convenience sample of 244 African American, unmarried, pregnant students completed a prenatal questionnaire. The Resource Size scale, a subscale in the questionnaire, was tested on pregnant students, and its coefficient alpha for internal consistency was .86. Additional data were obtained from the state's live birth certificate tape. Results showed that the age of the baby's father was significantly associated with adequacy of prenatal care. Because 51% of the babies' fathers are age 15-19 and most likely in school, the community and school health nurses may encourage them to get involved in the care of pregnant students. Other implications are also drawn.

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