The Effect of Antenatal Education Programme on Maternal-foetal Outcomes in Hong Kong Chinese Women Abstract
LSL CHAN, MWL WONG
Objective:
To explore the relationship between the attendance of the designated antenatal education programme
and the maternal-foetal outcomes for Chinese women in the obstetric unit of a regional hospital in
Hong Kong.
Materials and Methods:
Retrospective correlational design was used. A maternal-foetal outcomes data collection form was
developed to collect relevant data by case note review method.
Results:
Two hundred and seventy-two case notes were reviewed. The age of the sample ranged from 17 to 42
years, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 29.43 (4.52) years. Of them, 30 (11%) were in advanced
maternal age, i.e., 35 years or above. Their height ranged from 145 to 172 cm, with a mean (standard
deviation) height of 158.09 (5.19) cm. Ten (3.7%) of them were regarded as short stature, i.e., less than
150 cm in height. The body mass index ranged from 14.88 to 29.98, with a mean (standard deviation)
of 20.76 (2.88). Eleven (4.0%) of them were underweight with body mass index below 17, and 25 (9.2%)
were overweight with body mass index over 25. For their education level, 225 (82.7%) had at least
secondary level (Form 4 to 5). Twenty-three (8.5%) of them were either single or cohabited. Most of
them were working mothers. Only 72 (26.5%) were housewives. Eighty (29.4%) of them were under
midwifery care.
Conclusion:
There were some significant differences in the clinical and psychosocial outcomes, but no significance
in the fiscal outcomes when comparing the primiparae who attended and those who did not attend the
designated antenatal education programme.
Hong Kong J Gynaecol Obstet Midwifery 2006; 6:10-5
