EFFECT OF H.E.L.P. FOR M.O.M.S.

:
A Structured Health Education Program For Pregnant Clients
MARIA IMELDA T. OCAMPO-JAVIER,
RN, MAN
University of Perpetual Help System
 BACKGROUND
Health education is a very important tool in health promotion

In all countries, a public health revolution is being waged and is focused on emphasizing
health promotion, protection and disease-prevention. Emphasis is given on helping people
learn to adapt behavior which is essential to their well being.

Maternal health and child care is one of the areas of health care where health education is of
vital importance.
 BACKGROUND
In the Philippines, few studies are related to labor and almost none are related to post-
partum.

 Researches focused mostly on infertility studies and gender differences in reaction to illness
and stress.

Another study revealed that more than half of the hospitals do not hav organized health
teaching activities or information dissemination in their localities.
 BACKGROUND
 Because of these realities, a study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of Health
Education and Learning Program on Maternity Status (H.E.L.P. for M.O.M.S.) in
preparing pregnant mothers both physical and physiological for the coming of birth.

 The study used quasi-experimental, pretest-intervention post-test design

Variables both psychological and physiological in nature were measured using checklists
administered before and after the childbirth.
 BACKGROUND
The physiological preparation was evaluated by determining if the paraphernalia to be used
by the mother and the baby is complete

The physiological preparation was evaluated by assessing the knowledge and understanding
of the mother on her condition, acceptance of new role and assumption of the
responsibilities related to heal role.

 SIGNIFICANCE TO NURSING PRACTICE : it helps the nurse to provide a concrete

structured basis for instruction
 BACKROUND
As the client becomes more active in participating over her care and preparation for
childbirth, focus on the aspects of health promotion and preventive care is emphasized

The nurse is more able to deliver an effective health teaching by having sufficient materials
and references in preparation for the said activity.

Biggest beneficiaries of the study are mothers who will be more prepared for thee coming
birth because of the H..E.L.P. for M.O.M.S.
 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS AN CONCEPT
 SELF-EFFICACY
- referred as the people’s understanding of their ability to organize and perform courses of actions
needed to attain ddesignated types of actions

 Health Belief Model

- proposes that the probability that a person will initiate action concerning his health
condition is determined by the person’s readiness to act and the expected benefits as compared
to the perceived costs of inaction

Conceptual Framework of study – based on the interaction of the independent variables and
its effects on the mother’s physical and physiological preparedness for childbirth. As this
interaction manifests, the relationship of age, educational attainment and family income to
childbirth preparation is also checked.
 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
1. The common areas where mothers showed significant physical preparedness is on the readiness
in providing their and the newborn’s needs like the layette, sanitary pads, underwear, front-
opened clothes, and toiletries like oothpaste, toothbrush, and soap.

2. Mothers exhibited psychological preparedness when they expressed willingness to prepare the
things that the baby will need and to assume their new role as the mother.

3. A health education program that is structured and organized is beneficial in increasing the
awareness and capacity of the mother to assume perceived roles for delivery. This study was
able to negate results of researches in other Asian countries that there is correlation between
socio-demographic variables like age, educational attainment and family income, and childbirth
preparedness
4. A structurd health education program with well prepared instructional design and references is effective in
increasing the client’s capacity for self-efficacy. Therefore, H.E.L.P. for M.O.M.S. is effective in increasing
the mother’s preparedness in giving birth, both in physiological and psychological aspects.

5. It is recommended that H.E.L.P. for M.O.M.S. be made a vital component of the health education program
for pregnant women. Health teaching sessions is highly recommended to be conducted in a room where
mothers could be made comfortable and at ease, with a minimal disturbance.

6. Participating mothers would be better prepared if they would be given instructional materials like brochures
or lists to supplement the activity or to help them remember the important points in childbirth preparation.