Date of Award

Spring 1995

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program/Concentration

Urban Services--Health Services

Committee Director

Laurel Garzon

Committee Member

Brenda S. Nichols

Committee Member

Clare Houseman

Committee Member

Lindsay Rettie

Abstract

The present study examines the effect of nutritional intervention on two outcomes of pregnancy: birth weight of the baby and gestational age. The study further examines the difference in nutritional intervention in rural and urban areas. The research method used is ex-post facto design. Data for the study is extracted from the health records and tracking sheets of women participating in the Nutrition Intervention Project in Virginia Department of Health. Path analysis and effects analysis are used to analyze the causal and direct effect of the independent variables and each of the outcome variables. A model has been developed grounded on previous studies in order to test the path and effect of nutritional intervention on the two pregnancy outcomes.

The results indicate that nutritional intervention has a positive influence on both birth weight and gestational age. However, the Intervention had a greater impact on birth weight than on gestational age. Effects analysis of birth weight and gestational age indicate that the causal effect operates both via intervening variables as well as directly between the nutritional intervention and the outcome variables. This increases our confidence in the present model. Path analysis indicate that the path from nutritional intervention to the pregnancy outcomes via health risk behaviors was strong; path from nutritional intervention to the pregnancy outcomes via nutrient intake and weight gain was weak; path from nutritional intervention to the pregnancy outcomes via health risk behaviors and weight gain was strong; path from nutritional intervention to the pregnancy outcomes via health risk behaviors, nutrient intake, and weight gain was nonexistent; path from nutritional intervention to the pregnancy outcomes via weight gain was the strongest.

DOI

10.25777/1k61-0021

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