While advances in technology have increased survivors from neonatal intensive care units by 70-fold in the years from 1960 to 1983, little progress has been made in reducing the underlying causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality: (a) preterm birth; (b) low birth weight; and (c) birth defects (Paneth, 1995). Despite the significance of women's health behaviors for these pregnancy outcomes and women's later health, scientifically sound and comprehensive measures of health behaviors during pregnancy and preconception are lacking. Construction of such a measure is the focus of this project. Health promoting behaviors in pregnancy contribute to full term healthy outcomes in pregnancy, while unsatisfactory prenatal health behaviors contribute to the occurrence of preterm birth and other pregnancy complications (Carmichael, Abrams, & Selvin, 1997; Fuhrmann et al., 1983; Kramer et al., 1990; Schramm, Stockbauer, & Hoffman, 1996). Evidence in the literature regarding the domains of health behaviors crucial to pregnancy outcomes include: (1) nutrition, (2) physical activity, (3) stress management, (4) prenatal care, (5) lifestyle, and (6) pregnancy-specific risks. The links between health behaviors and outcomes in pregnancy, as well as, women's health in later life is supported by the theoretical underpinnings for health described in the early 1960s/1970s by Rubin in her classic observations of pregnant women. The design of a psychometrically sound instrument to measure prenatal health behaviors includes several phases (two pilot studies and one main study) to provide thorough evidence of reliability and validity.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Articulate the importance and need for an instrument to measure health behaviors in pregnancy, especially as it relates to the health of all women through senescence. 2. Discuss the conceptual domains critical to an instrument that measures preconceptual and prenatal health behaviors. 3. Describe the process to develop a psychometrically sound instrument that measures health behaviors during pregnancy.
Keywords: Methodology, Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.