Performing a program evaluation in a family case management program: determining outcomes for low birthweight deliveries.

Abstract

Program evaluations have become an integral part of public health practice. To illustrate the program evaluation process, an evaluation of clinical outcomes for clients of the Family Case Management (FCM) program administered by the nursing division of the DuPage County Health Department, Wheaton, Illinois, is presented. Birth outcomes for 1996 clients of the program who had a previous low-birthweight (LBW) infant and a subsequent birth using the prenatal services of the FCM program were analyzed. A purposive sample of clients was selected from the FCM prenatal program. Birth outcomes including infant gestational age and birthweight, maternal weight gain, and other key variables were compared to provision of health department services. Descriptive statistical methods were used to explore the relationship between birth outcomes and prenatal care between the first pregnancy and the second pregnancy. Analysis of the data showed improvements in maternal weight gain, infant birthweight and gestational age, prenatal care access, public health nurse (PHN) contacts, and physician visits. A positive association was shown between the early entry and increased use of prenatal services to improved birth outcomes in the subsequent pregnancy.