Prenatal Program Effective for Speakers of Limited English

Japanese women in the United States report that they like the social support

FRIDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A group prenatal visit program for Japanese women in the United States with limited English proficiency is well rated by the participants, who report that they like the social support of being with other pregnant women, according to a study published in the November-December issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

Sahoko H. Little, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues implemented and evaluated a group prenatal visit program in Michigan for five groups totaling 42 Japanese women who had limited English proficiency. Sessions were facilitated in Japanese by both a family physician and a registered nurse.

Based on 158 surveys after the sessions, the researchers found that 98 percent liked being with other pregnant women, 96 percent liked the improvement in understanding of prenatal care, 96 percent liked the preparation for labor and delivery, 94 percent liked the organization of visits, and 85 percent liked the preparation for newborn care. Nearly all (96 to 100 percent) said that seven educational topics were covered or covered well. Interviews indicated that the women liked the social support but were less enthusiastic about clinical assessments in this setting and the attendance of partners and children at the sessions.

"This study confirms the feasibility of family physicians providing prenatal group visits and extends the literature of the applicability of prenatal group visits for patients with limited English skills," Little and colleagues conclude.

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