Program Decreases Depression Rates, Increases Birth Control UseJune 15, 2009 |
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 For the past two years, the Avenue 43 WIC Center in Highland Park (the special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children) has offered a special program, in addition to nutritional services, to reach mothers at risk of a reoccurring preterm birth, or other birth complications. Funded by the March of Dimes, WIC Offers Wellness (WOW), helps women prepare for pregnancy by promoting good health and wellness through one-on-one contacts and monthly support groups. Preliminary project results show that the groups are also effective in helping slow some of the contributors to preterm birth. Overall, the 112 WOW participants reported significantly fewer negative feelings such as depression and helplessness over a six months period. Also, 59 percent of WOW mom's reported using birth control after six months in the program, an increase of nearly 30 percent from enrollment. Research shows that women who do not plan their pregnancies can also behave in ways that result in poor pregnancy outcomes, such as drinking alcohol in the first trimester, not seeking prenatal care right away and lack of folic acid/multivitamin use. Using birth control allows a family to plan ahead, and for the woman to properly prepare her bodies for pregnancy."We are very pleased with these early outcomes," said Denise Gee, special projects manager for PHFE-WIC. "It shows that participants are truly getting something out of the program." Now in its final year of a three-year grant, the WOW program also offers health assessments, referrals to family planning, psychosocial intervention services and overall care coordination. To learn more about the WOW Program at PHFE-WIC, contact Denise Gee at denise@phfewic.org. For more about PHFE-WIC and March of Dimes, please visit www.phfewic.org or www.marchofdimes.org. ‹‹Back to this week's Monday Morning Report |
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