Teaching inner-city mothers about family planning and prenatal and pediatric services

Abstract

One hundred thirty-five young, black, inner-city, pregnant women assessed the usefulness of a videotape designed by community health nurses to increase the self-care practices of low-income minority women with regard to their prenatal, pediatric, and family planning health needs. Seventy percent of the women rated as very useful information on the availability of health care and the protocols of public health clinics. The women also stated that they would tell others about public health care services and intended to make use of these services themselves as a result of viewing the videotape. The viewers' responses help clarify the preferred modality, content, and length of patient education for medically and socioeconomically high-risk pregnant women who tend to underuse preventive and primary health care.