Health promotion in Slovenia towards

excellent start:

Prenatal health education

for parents-to-be:

SKUPAJ ZA ZDRAVJE

Zalka Drglin, Ph.D.,

National Institute of Public Health

Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Antenatal / prenatal education, health education, childbirth preparation classes

Comprehensive standardized program for pregnant women and their partners (fathers-to-be)

• 2 mio people

• around 21.000 newborn babies per year

• average age of the mother:

30 years

Prenatal health education for parents-to-be as part of health education for

children and adolescents in Slovenia

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Vir: Mihevc Ponikvar, B., Rudolf, A., Perinatalni informacijski sistem RS, Primerjava podatkov med regijami za leto 2011, Ljubljana 2013, str. 16

Pregnant women in prenatal classes, Sloveniia, 1995 -2011

65,6 %

of

pregnant

women

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Expecting the child: determined moment

"In the time before the birth parents are willing to make the utmost for the welfare of the child; expectation of a child is one of the decisive moments favorable (kairos) for preventive strengthening the integrated physical, mental and social health of the family."Povšnar, E., Ramovš, J., Šola za starše in učenje komunikacije med njimi, Duševno zdravje in nosečnost, porod ter zgodnje starševstvo, Zbornik prispevkov, IVZ, Ljubljana 2009, str. 152.

Prenatal health education for parents-to-be:

for all pregnant women and future fathers in Slovenia

• for free in the health care systemin the community health centers

and some maternity hospitals

• approaches and practices which are interdisciplinary, innovative

and user-friendly

• based on salutogenesis

information

skillsfeelings

balance among

needs of users &

aims of public health &

needs of health care professionals

- Health promotion & health preventive programs

- preparation for birth, motherhood, fatherhood

- healthy life style in pregnancy, after birth for woman, man, baby: nutrition, physical activities, relaxation, mental health, relationship(s) … safety home, food … traffic

- risk behavior: tobacco, alcohol, drugs

- care in pregnancy, birth, postpartum for woman, baby, family members

- health issues in pregnancy, birth, health of the baby

- rights in health care system, social rights, rights on working place

Special emphasis on vulnerable / disadvantage groups / individuals

Aims:- to ensure that parents get the relevant information,

knowledge, skills and competencies that would enable them to facilitate decisions related to health and healthy lifestyles of their children and the whole family

- practical help and support in everyday life, - the information: accurate, clear, practical,

professional and reliable.

Main topics: emotional and physical development, injury prevention, environment and health, breastfeeding, healthy diet, dental health, sleeping, crying …

Materials: prepared instruction for professionals, brochures/flyers for users

Health education for parents-to be and parents

Maternity care – towards patient-oriented practices

WHO guideline

Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care. A guide for essential practice. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2006.

WHO guideline

„The guide provide a full range of updated, evidence-basednorms and standards that willenable health care providers to give high quality care duringpregnancy, delivery andpostpartum period, considering the needs of themother and her newbornbaby.“

(p. 4)

The average woman does not exist.

Every woman is a woman with special needs.

women’s (& baby) and family centered maternity care

Source: http://www.omaep.com/wp-en/historic/beneficial-consequences

Recent knowledge aboutneeds of the fetus andnewborn baby

Organisation regarding needs of pregnant women and future fathers - time, place, structure of meetings

What parents need?

7 meetings in pregnancy

+ 3 meetings post partum

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. After birth 10. fter birth 11. fter birth

Srečanje pred

zanositvijo

• Pregnancy I – early in pregnancy

1. in 2. srečanje

• Pregnancy II. – from 28th week of pregnancy

3., srečanje• Birth I., II.

4., 6. srečanje

• Baby

• Partnership

6. srečanje• Family

9., 10., 11. srečanje po

porodu

• Workshop I, II, III

Future development

Groups after birth

– - peer support

– - professional support, information,

– - developing skills, empowerment

Thank you.