Award Date

1-1-1996

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Nursing

First Committee Member

Mary Koithan

Number of Pages

173

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive, quantitative study was to examine factors that could predict a woman's timing of prenatal care initiation. Participation in early prenatal care, a type of health-promoting behavior, has been associated with improved maternal/child health. Many women however, delay prenatal care initiation until late in their pregnancy; Pender's Health Promotion Model and self-reported data were used to examine the relationship between: (a) preconception participation in health-promoting behaviors, (b) demographic variables, (c) situational factors, (d) interpersonal social support, and (e) perceived barriers to/benefits of prenatal care and the timing of initiation to prenatal care. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 150 pregnant women recruited from two northern Nevada prenatal care clinics. Statistics used to analyze the data included correlation, regression and multiple regression. Both situational factor unplanned pregnancy and increased barriers to care were statistically significant in predicting later initiation to prenatal care; Healthy People 2000 (1990) includes goals to increase the number of pregnant women initiating early prenatal care. Participation in early prenatal care can potentially promote the health of mother and child. A behavior such as this can impact the health of a future generation.

Keywords

Behavior; Care; Early; Health; Initiation; Late; Predictors; Prenatal; Promoting

Controlled Subject

Obstetrics; Public health

File Format

pdf

File Size

3604.48 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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