2.7.1 Exploring Jordanian antenatal education outcomes: A solomon four-group study (196)

Sanaa Abujilban, Student, Nursing, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Co authors: Marlene Sinclair & George Kernohan mailto:abujelban@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract:

Previous research on the effects of Antenatal education has primarily been conducted using self-report cross-sectional data without an explicit theoretical base. The resulting forms of data are vulnerable to several threats to both internal and external validity. In 2002, a Primary Health Care Initiative (PHCI) was introduced in Jordan recommending free antenatal education for all pregnant women (MOH, 2002). It is important to explore and evaluate such new healthcare interventions so that appropriate resource allocation may be planned for future service delivery.

Aim:

To assess outcomes from the introduction of antenatal education on maternal confidence, anxiety and birth outcomes Methods: A natural experiment Solomon four-group design was chosen and Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory (CBSEI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to determine changes in maternal confidence and anxiety following antenatal education. Ethical approval, permission to use the CBSEI, STAI and access to pregnant women was obtained. Depending on power analysis, a convenient sample of 266 primiparous women was recruited from three MOH centres and three private clinics in Northern Jordan between December 2006 and June 2007.

Analysis:

2X2 ANOVA, t-test, ANCOVA were used to analyse the data.

Results and discussion:

Pre-testing showed differences between experimental and control group, which were controlled by ANCOVA. Results suggest that the effect of antenatal education on maternal confidence and anxiety were not significant. Experimental group post-test maternal confidence does not change significantly from the pre-test, while their anxiety state increased significantly. On the other hand, the control group demonstrated that maternal confidence increased significantly, while their anxiety does not. Further analysis showed antenatal education is a strong predictor for this change.

Conclusions:

Results were not conclusive, antenatal education is a complex intervention which needs to be studied from several perspectives: if applied inappropriately it may raise or lower maternal anxiety and confidence levels.

Biography:

Sanaa is a research student, studying at University of Ulster, with interest in evaluation of antenatal education. She was a lecturer at Hashemite University in Jordan. She Holds Bsc in nursing, Msc in nursing education, and higher diploma in midwifery. Previously she worked as a staff nurse in paediatric floor for five years. She is married with two children, and lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.