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Group Prenatal Care Attendance: Determinants and Relationship with Care Satisfaction

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Abstract

Objectives Group prenatal care results in improved birth outcomes in randomized controlled trials, and better attendance at group prenatal care visits is associated with stronger clinical effects. This paper’s objectives are to identify determinants of group prenatal care attendance, and to examine the association between proportion of prenatal care received in a group context and satisfaction with care. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of pregnant adolescents (n = 547) receiving group prenatal care in New York City (2008–2012). Multivariable linear regression models were used to test associations between patient characteristics and percent of group care sessions attended, and between the proportion of prenatal care visits that occurred in a group context and care satisfaction. Results Sixty-seven groups were established. Group sizes ranged from 3 to 15 women (mean = 8.16, SD = 3.08); 87 % of groups enrolled at least five women. Women enrolled in group prenatal care supplemented group sessions with individual care visits. However, the percent of women who attended each group session was relatively consistent, ranging from 56 to 63 %. Being born outside of the United States was significantly associated with higher group session attendance rates [B(SE) = 11.46 (3.46), p = 0.001], and women who received a higher proportion of care in groups reported higher levels of care satisfaction [B(SE) = 0.11 (0.02), p < 0.001]. Conclusions Future research should explore alternative implementation structures to improve pregnant women’s ability to receive as much prenatal care as possible in a group setting, as well as value-based reimbursement models and other incentives to encourage more widespread adoption of group prenatal care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale School of Public Health, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Shayna D. Cunningham, Stephanie Grilo, Jessica B. Lewis & Jeannette R. Ickovics

  2. Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA

    Gina Novick

  3. Centering Health Institute, Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Sharon Schindler Rising

  4. Clinical Directors Network (CDN), New York, NY, USA

    Jonathan N. Tobin

  5. Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA

    Jonathan N. Tobin

  6. Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA

    Jonathan N. Tobin

Authors
  1. Shayna D. Cunningham
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  2. Stephanie Grilo
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  3. Jessica B. Lewis
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  4. Gina Novick
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  5. Sharon Schindler Rising
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  6. Jonathan N. Tobin
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  7. Jeannette R. Ickovics
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Correspondence to Shayna D. Cunningham.

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Cunningham, S.D., Grilo, S., Lewis, J.B. et al. Group Prenatal Care Attendance: Determinants and Relationship with Care Satisfaction. Matern Child Health J 21, 770–776 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2161-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2161-3

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