Hallee Winnie, MPA, And Anna Valle

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2011
www.PosterPresentations.com
SUMMARY
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is a prenatal education
program created specifically for women in the Hispanic
community. The information provided is culturally sensitive, and
designed to improve participants’ chances of having a healthy
pregnancy and a healthy baby. Classes serve as a source of social
support for the women and allow them the opportunity to
network with other mothers in a similar situation. Becoming a
Mom/Comenzando bien takes a holistic approach to caring for
the family, using education that helps women enhance their wellbeing.
A recent state-wide evaluation of the program was conducted
including over 2,200 participants from 38 program sites
throughout Texas. Evaluation sought to assess the program both
quantitatively and qualitatively. The evaluation found that the
program had significant results on knowledge attainment,
behavior changes, support provided, and positive birth outcomes
for participants. Of the participants reporting birth outcomes,
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien participants had a preterm
birth rate of 3.2% compared to the state-wide rate of preterm
birth for Hispanic women of 13.4%.
BACKGROUND
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is a prenatal education
program developed by the March of Dimes, a foundation whose
mission is to improve the health and well being of babies by
preventing birth defects, preterm births and infant mortality.
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien was developed in 1995 in
collaboration with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health in
response to a need for a culturally and linguistically tailored
prenatal education program for Hispanic women.
The program was revised and updated by the March of Dimes
in 2010; Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien curriculum is
available in both English and Spanish. While anyone is invited to
participate in the program and the curriculum is adaptable for
different cultures, Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is
targeted to Hispanic women of childbearing age. The program
has been implemented in a variety of settings, including
community-based organizations,
churches and worksites, and
it is taught by trained
facilitators.
Culturally Competent Prenatal Education
Can Create Behavior Change
Hallee Winnie, MPA, and Anna Valle
March of Dimes, 3000 Weslayan, Suite 100, Houston, TX
OBJECTIVES
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is a prenatal education
program targeted for women in the Hispanic community. The
information provided is culturally sensitive, and designed to
improve participants’ chances of having a healthy pregnancy and
a healthy baby. Classes serve as a source of social support for
the women.
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien consists of eight twohour
sessions designed to promote healthy pregnancies through
two main components: cognitive and behavioral.
The cognitive component is designed to provide accurate and
timely information about prenatal care and pregnancy, while the
behavioral component promotes changes in prenatal health
behaviors such as seeking prenatal care, taking prenatal vitamins
and eating healthy foods.
METHODS
Pre- and post-test evaluations were provided to women
enrolled in Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien prenatal
education classes from February 2010 through March 2011 at 38
various sites in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus
Christi, and El Paso. 2,300 pre-tests and 2,115 post-tests were
collected and compiled in a database. Evaluations were given
during the first prenatal class and then again at the final class.
Class facilitators also contacted mothers and home visits were
often conducted after participant’s babies were born. Whenever
possible facilitators asked mothers to complete a follow-up
postcard to obtain birth outcomes and information about
behavior changes. 1,295 participants reported these outcomes.
Graduate participants are offered the opportunity to become
facilitators and mentor other women.
RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
•Of the participants, 96.8% reported that the program provided
them with social support.
•The evaluation demonstrated a statistically significant gain in
the number of women able to correctly identify the signs and
symptoms of preterm labor.
•Overall, the percentage of women with beliefs or attitudes
signifying the importance of seeking prenatal care even if the
woman feels healthy improved from 36% at the time of the pretest
to 98.3% at the post-test.
•The number of women answering correctly that babies are
safest when placed on their backs to sleep more than doubled
from the pre to the post-test.
•Behavior change was also strongly demonstrated as 91.4% stated
that Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien classes caused them to
change their eating habits and 83.5% stated they changed their
exercise habits.
•102 participants reported they stopped smoking because of what
they learned in Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien classes.
•Of the 896 participants reporting birth outcomes, 96.8%
delivered their babies after 37 weeks. This is only a 3.2%
preterm birth rate compared to the state-wide rate for Hispanic
women of 13.4%.
The results reveal that the Becoming a Mom/Comenzando
bien program has many positive characteristics.
Culturally relevant prenatal education can improve birth
outcomes, enhance participant’s social support and create
behavior change.
Participants gain social support and become mentors to each
other. Graduate participants who become mentors create a
vested interest in future participants’ well-being.
CONTACT
Primary Presenter: Hallee Winnie, MPA
Director of Programs, Public Health Regions 5 & 6, March of Dimes
Address: 3000 Weslayan, Suite 100, Houston TX 77027
Phone Number: 713-964-5408 Fax: 713-964-5417
Email Address: hwinnie@marchofdimes.com
Secondary Presenter: Anna Valle
Program Services Coordinator, March of Dimes
Address: 3000 Weslayan, Suite 100, Houston TX 77027
Phone Number: 713-964-5409 Fax: 713-964-5417
Email Address: avalle@marchofdimes.com

Culturally Competent Prenatal Education Can Create Behavior Change
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien is a prenatal education program created specifically for women in the Hispanic
community. The information provided is culturally sensitive, and designed to improve participants’ chances of having a
healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Classes serve as a source of social support for the women and allow them the
opportunity to connect with other mothers in a similar situation. Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien takes a holistic
approach to caring for the family, using education that helps women enhance their well-being.
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien curriculum is available in both English and Spanish. While anyone is invited to
participate in the program and the curriculum is adaptable for different cultures, Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien
is targeted to Hispanic women of childbearing age. The program has been implemented in a variety of settings,
including community-based organizations, churches and worksites, and it is taught by trained facilitators.
The program consists of eight two-hour sessions designed to promote healthy pregnancies through two components:
� Cognitive - designed to provide accurate and timely information about prenatal care and pregnancy.
� Behavioral - component promotes changes in prenatal health behaviors such as seeking prenatal care, taking
prenatal vitamins and eating healthy foods.
From February 2010 through March 2011, 2,330 pre-tests and 2,115 post-tests were collected from enrolled in
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien prenatal education classes. 1,295 participants completed follow-up postcards
reporting birth outcomes and information regarding behavior changes. Results from the evaluation include:
� 96.8% reported that the program provided them with social support.
� Statistically significant gain in the number of women able to correctly identify the signs and symptoms of
preterm labor.
� The percentage of women with beliefs or attitudes signifying the importance of seeking prenatal care even if the
woman feels healthy improved from 36% at the time of the pre-test to 98.3% at the post-test.
� 91.4% stated that Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien classes caused them to change their eating habits and
83.5% stated they changed their exercise habits.
� 102 participants reported they stopped smoking because of what they learned in Becoming a
Mom/Comenzando bien classes.
� Of the 896 participants reporting birth outcomes, 96.8% delivered their babies after 37 weeks. This is only a
3.2% preterm birth rate compared to the state-wide rate for Hispanic women of 13.4%.
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien has shown culturally relevant prenatal education can improve birth outcomes,
enhance participant’s social support and create behavior change. Participants gain social support and become mentors
to each other. Graduate participants who become mentors create a vested interest in future participants’ well-being.
For more information, contact:
Hallee Winnie, Director of Programs, Public Health Regions 5 & 6, hwinnie@marchofdimes.com
Anna Valle, Program Services Coordinator, avalle@marchofdimes.com