A study of the learning projects of pregnant women
Date
1984
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the
deliberate learning projects of women during their first
pregnancy. The study focused on their learning projects which
dealt with the topics of pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn. A
learning project consisted of several related episodes of learning
occupying a total time of at least seven hours. During this time
the learner made a deliberate attempt to gain and retain certain
definite knowledge and skill. Fifty women comprised the selected
sample for the study. Twenty-five of these women had attended
prenatal classes, 25 had not attended prenatal classes. Each
respondent was interviewed, 4 to 12 weeks following the birth of
her infant, using a semi-structured interview schedule.
The respondents identified 141 learning projects which had
been conducted during their pregnancies, which were related to the topics of pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn. Each of these
learning projects was examined in detail including the content of
learning, the length of the project, the planner for the project,
and the resources used.
These women regarded learning related to pregnancy as a
serious endeavor, about which they spent time and effort during
their pregnancies. The learning needs and goals of the
individuals interviewed did vary. As well, they made suggestions
as to what would have improved their learning.
The learning projects ranged in length from seven hours to
180 hours. The majority of the learning projects were
self-planned, with group instructors, objects, and experts used to a lesser extent. The respondents used many resources for their learning: books and pamphlets, friends and relatives, experts, films, and television.
The respondents who attended prenatal classes identified this
as only one resource that they used for their learning projects.
Those who did not attend prenatal classes identified reasons as to
why they chose not to attend. The desire to learn independently
was the most cited reason.
Recommendations have been made on the basis of the results of
this study. These recommendations have relevance for health
professionals who practise in the prenatal field and most
especially for community health nurses.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Degree
Master of Continuing Education (M.C.Ed.)
Department
College of Education
Program
College of Education