Use of Paraprofessionals to Motivate Women to Return for Post Partum Checkup: Planned Parenthood Project

Abstract

During a 27 month project 1841 patients who had not kept initial postpartum appointments for examination were referred to a staff of 11 paraprofessionals. These workers were recruited from the neighborhoods and trained to interview patients and impress them with the need for follow-up care. Results indicate that telephone contact is more cost effective and almost as useful as a home interview. Letters proved ineffectual. Home interviews with 362 women resulted in 275 appointments of which only 79 were actually kept. Most significant was the recruitment and training of the paraprofessionals who demonstrated increased abilities and skills and interest in further education. Some of them obtained better employment as a result of their experiences as auxiliary workers in a community health program.