Promoting improved social support and quality of life with the CenteringPregnancy® group model of prenatal care

Abstract

This prospective cohort study compared women participating in CenteringPregnancy® group prenatal care (N = 120) with those in standard individual care (N = 221) to determine if participation in Centering was associated with improvements in perceived social support and quality of life, with concomitant decreases in screens of postpartum depression and improvements in breastfeeding rates. Participants completed surveys at the onset of prenatal care, in the late third trimester and in the postpartum period. Centering participants had higher scores of perceived social support from friends after participating in group care (p < 0.05) with associated improvements in quality of life in the psychological and relational domains (p < 0.05) compared to standard care participants who showed higher scores of perceived support from family (p < 0.05) but did not show concomitant improvements in quality of life. This did not translate to any significant difference in scores on postpartum depression screens but was associated with improvements in breastfeeding continuation rates among Centering participants in the postpartum period. This study indicates that Centering care is associated with improved perceptions of peer social support with associated improvements in quality of life and higher rates of continued breastfeeding.

Health Care Experience Among Women Who Completed Group Prenatal Care (CenteringPregnancy) Compared to Individual Prenatal Care Within Military Treatment Facilities

“…However, our findings regarding improved patient experience with Access to Care, driven by their ability to see their provider quickly ("saw provider within 15 minutes of appointment") reflects previous research citing the importance of the amount of time saved waiting for care for women in Centering (22). Similarly, the results of the qualitative analysis are consistent with previous findings reporting improvements in social support for women in Centering programs in military health settings (13,22). Our findings from interviews with providers and implementation staff also reflect those of previous research demonstrating the challenges of finding dedicated program space as well as the importance of support from MTF leadership (21).…”

Women's experience with group prenatal care in a rural community in northern Nigeria

“…This suggested an impact of the prenatal sessions beyond the meeting rooms to family and community levels, which could engender more social support for mothers. Interestingly, Chae et al . have shown that group prenatal care confers higher perception of family and friends’ support compared to traditional prenatal care.…”

The Influence of Four Constructs of Social Support on Pregnancy Experiences in Group Prenatal Care

“… 1 Social support is linked to improvements in maternal quality of life, higher rates of continued breastfeeding, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. 2–4 Adequate social support promotes mental health in the perinatal period by reducing low mood and anxiety and helping women manage feelings of isolation and disempowerment. 1 As women transition to motherhood, social support also enhances maternal competence by providing encouragement, promoting self-esteem, and decreasing stress.…”

“…As an alternative to traditional models of prenatal care, group prenatal care (GPNC), where women receive care in small groups and participate in group discussion covering a variety of health topics related to pregnancy, has been shown to boost women's perceptions of social support. 2 , 14 CenteringPregnancy, an evidence-based GPNC model, provides prenatal care through a supportive group process. 15 Health care providers facilitate discussion and engage in interactive learning activities with group members ( i.e.…”