Making A Difference in Health Care Costs
Participant comments:
Chastity, age 15 "I started to care about my school work and my grades because I know that I can have a baby and go to school at the same time. I'm trying to come to school more often so that my baby will have a well-educated mother."
Tiffany, age 17 "I wasn't going to come to this program, but I learned that my child comes first, so that's why I'm here because I need my education first."
A school social worker commented, "Our community has an extremely high rate of pregnant teens and a very limited public transportation system. Because of this, I feel that many of our students would fail to receive the important benefits of this program if it were not offered in the school setting."
A 15-year-old stated, "The best thing about this program was the information. I quit smoking because of it."
A 17-year-old participant stated, "Since the beginning of this program, I have decided to give breastfeeding a try. I also eat well-balanced meals, and I stay away from smokers."
The Need
Low birth-weight (LBW) is the number one contributor infant mortality in Indiana. Preterm birth is the number one contributor to the LBW rate. 7.9 percent of Indiana babies are born at low birth-weight (1998) 11.9 percent of infants born to mothers age 10 to 17 were born LBW. Between 11 and 21 percent of low birth-weight births are attributable to maternal smoking. In Indiana 21.8 % of the mothers smoked during their pregnancies. Low birth-weight babies are 64 percent more likely to attend special education classes than normal birth-weight babies.
Total medical costs for a low birth-weight infant average $400,000. Lifetime medical costs of caring for a premature baby is conservatively projected to be $500,000 per case. More than 60 percent of private-sector preterm births and low birth-weight cases are preventable.
The Response - The Have A Healthy Baby Program
What is it?
Prenatal nutrition education program consisting of six lessons
Emphasizes nutrition and lifestyle choices -- smoking, drinking and drugs
Research-based, taught by trained, caring professionals
A highly visual, interactive, complete curriculum
Initiatives include Spanish language version, versions for use in clinics and physicians' offices, and food safety during pregnancy
Who participates?
Pregnant teens in schools and community centers
Pregnant-at-risk teens and adults in their homes or community centers, including WIC clinics
What does it cover?
Adequate weight gain and healthy nutritional choices
Consequences of smoking, drinking and drugs
Importance of early and continuous prenatal care
Infant feeding choices--breast-feeding and bottle-feeding
Impact of mother-to-be's decisions on herself and her baby
Where is it taught?
Throughout the state of Indiana - more than 239 middle and high schools, community agencies and sites 35 other states have purchased the curriculum. Replicated in Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
The Results
In 1999:
1235 pregnant teens and at-risk adults were taught
Data was obtained on 673 live births
Decreased low birth weight infants to adolescents (6.4% compared to state average of 11.9%
Decreased neonatal mortality - one death reported
Decreased days of hospitalization with subsequent savings
Decreased long-term care costs due to healthier babies
29% of participants report decreased tobacco use
50% of participants are breast-feeding at one month
Since program initiation:
Over 11, 500 pregnant adolescents and at-risk adults taught
Fewer low birth weight infants, decreased neonatal mortality and decreased days of neonatal hospitalization
Significant increase in both nutrition knowledge and improvement in intake of healthy foods
Significant increase in WIC participation after birth