Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant social, economic, and health issue in the United States. The unique developmental needs of the pregnant adolescent require attention when designing prenatal care services. The CenteringPregnancy model of group prenatal care provides education and support for young women in an active and developmentally appropriate environment. Thirteen groups of adolescents (N = 124) have completed the Centering program at the Teen Pregnancy Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Evaluation data suggest that the model has encouraged excellent health care compliance, satisfaction with prenatal care, and low rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants.

Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant social, economic, and health issue in the United States. The unique developmental needs of the pregnant adolescent require attention when designing prenatal care services. The CenteringPregnancy model of group prenatal care provides education and support for young women in an active and developmentally appropriate environment. Thirteen groups of adolescents (N = 124) have completed the Centering program at the Teen Pregnancy Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Evaluation data suggest that the model has encouraged excellent health care compliance, satisfaction with prenatal care, and low rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants.

Centering Pregnancy, an innovative group model of prenatal care, shows promise to reduce persistent adverse maternal-infant outcomes and contain costs. Because this innovation requires systemwide change, clinics reported needing support enrolling women into groups and obtaining organizational buy-in. This study used the 3-step social marketing communication strategy to help clinic staff identify key customers and customer-specific barriers to adopting or supporting Centering Pregnancy. They developed targeted information to reduce barriers and built skills in communicating with different customers through role-playing. Findings provide practical information for others to use this communication strategy to improve implementation of Centering Pregnancy.