The Effect of Group Prenatal Care on Empowerment of Pregnant Adolescents: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of group prenatal care on empowerment of pregnant adolescents. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 294 pregnant adolescents (aged 15-19) were randomly assigned into two groups of group prenatal care (GPNC, n=147) and individual prenatal care (IPNC, n=147). GPNC group received 5 sessions of GPNC (90-120 min) during 16-20 weeks of pregnancy, while the control group received individual prenatal care. The empowerment of participants in the two groups was measured using the empowerment scale for pregnant women. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, independent t-test, and adjusted regression test. Results: The mean total score of pregnant women’s empowerment in the GPNC and IPNC groups after the intervention was 86.46±4.95 and 81.89±4.75, respectively [ β= 6.11, 95% CI: 4.89, 7.33, p<0.0001]. The improvement of dimensions of pregnancy empowerment in GPNC versus IPNC was as follows: Self‐efficacy: 18.21 ± 2.12 vs. 16.19 ± 1.79 [β= 2.52, 95% CI: 2.19, 2.86, p<0.0001], Future image: 19.57±1.57 vs. 18.95±1.54 [β= 0.67, 95% CI: (0.44, 0.9], Self-esteem: 21.79 ± 1.75 vs. 20.90 ± 1.85 [β= 0.69, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.97, P<0.0001], Joy of an addition to the family: 13.13±1.69 vs. 12.84±1.40 [β= 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.74, P=0.009], and Support and assurance from others: 13.70 ± 1.1 and 13.04 ± 1.07, [β= 0.76, 95% CI: 0.13, 1.65, P<0.0001]. Conclusion: Group prenatal care can improve adolescent pregnant women’s empowerment. Results of the present study can serve as a useful foundation for implementing the group prenatal care model in Iran. Keywords: Adolescent pregnancy; Empowerment; Centering prenatal care; Group prenatal care; Ira