Education for Nurses on Preterm Birth Among Black Women

Abstract

By Madison Balsinger, Nursing; Madison Sloman, Nursing; Katelyn Fenik, Nursing; Kirsten Hausmann, Nursing; Megan Nielander, Nursing; Heather Engle, Nursing

Advisor: Lori Trammel

Awards: Presenter Award: Excellence in Research Communication

Presentation ID: 119

Abstract: According to the CDC, "in 2019, the rate of preterm birth among African-American women (14.4%) was about 50 percent higher than the rate of preterm birth among white or Hispanic women (9.3% and 10% respectively)" (Preterm birth, 2020). It has even been found that racial disparities in preterm birth still persist among women who have high levels of education and socioeconomic status (Johnson, 2020). The purpose of this project is to educate nurses who care for pregnant, laboring, and delivering black women about their role in reducing this disparity. We conducted a twenty-minute educational session using handouts as well as a pre-test and post-test survey to gauge knowledge acquired during our session. We explained preterm birth and its warning signs, compared black and white women's preterm birth rates and why they are so different, and explored strategies to improve health outcomes for black women and their babies. After providing the educational session, 100% of the nurses educated rated their knowledge about the subject and their confidence about using resources and strategies to prevent preterm birth in black women higher than before the presentation. The improvement in knowledge and confidence from the session indicates that the nurses learned new information that can be utilized in their practice.