Meeting the Needs of the Teen-Age Pregnant Student: An In-School Program That Works (From Teenage Pregnancy, P 255-257, 1987, Mary C. McClellan, ed. -- See NCJ-117071)

• NCJ Number: 117088
• Author(s): M L McAfee; M R Geesey
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 3 pages
• Sale Source: Phi Delta Kappa
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reprinted from the Journal of School Health, volume 54, number 9, October 1984.

Annotation

This article describes a program of the York City School District (Pennsylvania) which has been successful in reducing the school dropout rate among pregnant students.

Abstract

In 1979 the in-school program called 'Changing Roles' was introduced to the York city schools. Its objectives are to reduce the drop-out rate for pregnant students, provide comprehensive prenatal education to such students, and improve the health of teen-age mothers and their children. The district school nurse, who has received special instruction in prenatal care, conducts the course. Classes are held biweekly (2 hours each session) during the regular school day. New students can be admitted at any time and at any stage of pregnancy. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, the male and female adolescent body, fetus development, nutrition for pregnant adolescents, prenatal medical care, prenatal and postpartum exercises, the labor and delivery process, hospitalization, postpartum care of the mother and the newborn, infant care and nutrition, birth control, and child development and care. In the 1982-83 school year, only 9.5 percent of the pregnant students dropped out of York city schools, far below the national drop-out rate of 80-90 percent. 7 references.