Andrew G Symon1, Wendy L Wrieden. 1. School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. a.g.symon@snm.dundee.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: in order to assess the feasibility of nutritional education intervention sessions for pregnant teenagers, standard dietary assessment schedules were supplemented by a qualitative appraisal. Reported in this paper are the perceptions of pregnant teenagers who attended one or more of these sessions. DESIGN: qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Data were collected using semi-structured tape-recorded group interviews. SETTING: two community centres and one maternity unit in Tayside, Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: ten pregnant teenagers aged 16-18 years. INTERVENTIONS: all had attended one or more of a series of food preparation sessions led by a midwife. Food to take away was provided, as were supermarket vouchers. FINDINGS: those who attended found the sessions to be social, educational, and practical. These young women appreciated being in a group which did not include 'older' pregnant women. To a limited extent they had changed their dietary habits at home. Food to take home was a significant attraction. Some of the teenagers sought maternity-related information from the midwife leading the session. KEY CONCLUSIONS: nutritional education remains an important public health issue. Despite offering a range of incentives, attracting teenagers to these sessions was difficult, making their economic feasibility questionable. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: with better recruitment, such sessions could form an important part of improving nutrition and overall health for current and future generations.
OBJECTIVE: in order to assess the feasibility of nutritional education intervention sessions for pregnant teenagers, standard dietary assessment schedules were supplemented by a qualitative appraisal. Reported in this paper are the perceptions of pregnant teenagers who attended one or more of these sessions. DESIGN: qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Data were collected using semi-structured tape-recorded group interviews. SETTING: two community centres and one maternity unit in Tayside, Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: ten pregnant teenagers aged 16-18 years. INTERVENTIONS: all had attended one or more of a series of food preparation sessions led by a midwife. Food to take away was provided, as were supermarket vouchers. FINDINGS: those who attended found the sessions to be social, educational, and practical. These young women appreciated being in a group which did not include 'older' pregnant women. To a limited extent they had changed their dietary habits at home. Food to take home was a significant attraction. Some of the teenagers sought maternity-related information from the midwife leading the session. KEY CONCLUSIONS: nutritional education remains an important public health issue. Despite offering a range of incentives, attracting teenagers to these sessions was difficult, making their economic feasibility questionable. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: with better recruitment, such sessions could form an important part of improving nutrition and overall health for current and future generations.