Discuss the concept of Centering Pregnancy as an intervention

Answer 1

The Dayton and Montgomery County upstream infant mortality intervention was Centering Pregnancy. Centering Pregnancy is a model of prenatal care that integrates the three care components of health assessment, education, and support within a group setting. Eight to 12 women with similar due dates meet regularly to learn care skills, participate in facilitated discussion, and develop a support network. Centering Pregnancy care starts around the beginning of the second trimester. Centering groups meet 10 times throughout pregnancy and soon after delivery. Each group has a facilitator and a health practitioner. The practitioner, within the group space, completes standard prenatal physical health assessments. Centering Pregnancy groups provide a richer setting in which women can learn, share, and support one another. This model differs from the exchanges in standard one-on-one prenatal care appointments. When group members share similar concerns and experiences with each other, the peer support can make the whole process of pregnancy feel more normal. Groups provide support to the women and increase individual motivation to learn and make positive change. Centering Pregnancy group discussions address infant mortality risk factors such as smoking, maternal stress, safe sleep, and breastfeeding. Through Centering, women are empowered and socially supported to choose health-promoting behaviors. The specific behavioral targets of a Centering program include the percentage of women who complete the prenatal care and the percentage of women who improve risk and protective behaviors. Health outcomes of this prenatal care model include decreased preterm birth, increased birth weight, and increased gestational age at delivery.?