PROCESS, COSTS, AND OUTCOMES OF COMMUNITY-BASED PRENATAL-CARE FOR ADOLESCENTS

An evaluation of a community-based prenatal care program for teens compared 180 adolescent clients with a sample of adolescents matched on age and year of delivery who received care through a traditional prenatal care program at a university medical center. Evaluation criteria describing the process of receiving care were the mean number of prenatal visits, nonscheduled outpatient visits, nonstress tests, ultrasounds, and inpatient days during pregnancy. The two programs were significantly different as measured by these criteria. Outcome criteria included gestational age, birthweight, the percentage of infants requiring neonatal intensive care, and the percentage of clients with maternal complications. A multivariate analysis showed no statistically significant differences in these outcomes. The average cost of resources consumed during prenatal care for the study group was 41% that of controls.