New mother groups as a social network intervention: consumer and maternal and child health nurse perspectives

Abstract

Maternal and child health nurses in two outer urban local government areas in Melbourne, Australia were interviewed about how they facilitated first-time parent groups. Groups were offered to all first time mothers and almost two thirds of mothers joined a group. The groups ran for approximately eight sessions and provided infant-focussed parent education and social contact. Women who joined the groups were followed up 18 months to two years later to determine the degree to which these groups continued to meet on their own accord and the extent to which they had become self-sustaining social networks. The study found a very high level of continuation, suggesting that providing such programs may be an important vehicle for enhancing social support during the transition to parenthood and thus be a useful primary prevention strategy.