OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Maternity Education (ME) programme: improvement of previous knowledge, changes in hygiene and dietary habits, attitudes to giving birth, satisfaction with the development of the sessions and perceived use. DESIGN: Pre-test/post-test. SETTING: Urban Health Centre. PARTICIPANTS: 222 pregnant women who attended ME. 211 answered the first questionnaire, 145 also the second, and 113 all three. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Self-administered questionnaires on social and demographic profile, hygiene and diet habits and knowledge of pregnancy, birth and caring for the new-born. Satisfaction and perceived use survey. Mean overall knowledge went up by 4.97 points (CI 95%: 4.5-5.44). Age (p < 0.0001), greater educational level (p < 0.001) and not being primiparas (p < 0.001) were linked to better initial knowledge. 46.7% of smokers stopped smoking between the start of pregnancy and the start of ME. By the end 23.6% of the women smoked, with an average of 4.53 cigarettes per day. Consumption of milk products per day went up from 2.78 to 3.07 (p = 0.002). Those taking physical exercise went up from 22.4% to 57.6% (p = 0.0001). 99.5% considered the sessions very pleasant; 89%, easily understandable; and 100% took part freely in the discussions. 86.7% had little or no fear of giving birth. 92.8% found the breathing exercises useful; and 69.8% the relaxation exercises. 98.2% thought that all pregnant women should experience ME. CONCLUSIONS: Group ME is effective for improving knowledge and health habits. Pregnant women thought it useful for confronting the birth and were very satisfied with the methods used.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Maternity Education (ME) programme: improvement of previous knowledge, changes in hygiene and dietary habits, attitudes to giving birth, satisfaction with the development of the sessions and perceived use. DESIGN: Pre-test/post-test. SETTING: Urban Health Centre. PARTICIPANTS: 222 pregnant women who attended ME. 211 answered the first questionnaire, 145 also the second, and 113 all three. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Self-administered questionnaires on social and demographic profile, hygiene and diet habits and knowledge of pregnancy, birth and caring for the new-born. Satisfaction and perceived use survey. Mean overall knowledge went up by 4.97 points (CI 95%: 4.5-5.44). Age (p < 0.0001), greater educational level (p < 0.001) and not being primiparas (p < 0.001) were linked to better initial knowledge. 46.7% of smokers stopped smoking between the start of pregnancy and the start of ME. By the end 23.6% of the women smoked, with an average of 4.53 cigarettes per day. Consumption of milk products per day went up from 2.78 to 3.07 (p = 0.002). Those taking physical exercise went up from 22.4% to 57.6% (p = 0.0001). 99.5% considered the sessions very pleasant; 89%, easily understandable; and 100% took part freely in the discussions. 86.7% had little or no fear of giving birth. 92.8% found the breathing exercises useful; and 69.8% the relaxation exercises. 98.2% thought that all pregnant women should experience ME. CONCLUSIONS: Group ME is effective for improving knowledge and health habits. Pregnant women thought it useful for confronting the birth and were very satisfied with the methods used.