Improving birth outcomes with nutrition education

The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) infants born to teenagers is a challenge to nutrition educators. In Camden, New Jersey, the number was staggering as was the reality that malnourished children were themselves bearing children. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Rutgers Cooperative Extension, was the ideal vehicle to deliver nutrition education to this population. Since pregnant teens respond to incentives, special funding was obtained. The results of this program indicate the effectiveness of intensive nutrition education for pregnant teens. EFNEP's success points to the 6.5% LBW rate at the end of the study as compared to Camden's 12.7% LBW rate. ©1997 Aspen Publishers, Inc.