A comparative evaluation of 'The Pregnancy Book' and two other publications

Abstract

A STUDY of the Health Education Council publica tion The Pregnancy Book ¹ was undertaken. A group of nulliparous pregnant women were sent this book with the information about their first hospital anten atal appointment. Two other groups were sent either the BMA publication You and Your Baby ² , or the Scottish Health Education Group Book of the Child ³. The women's reactions to the book were assessed according to a wide range of criteria, including how much of it they had read, what they liked or disliked about it, and their knowledge of the material covered by the book. The responses to all the criteria were positive, and the overall reaction of the women was favourable. The majority had read at least some of the book before their first attendance at the clinic. No obvious social class differences were apparent. There were no significant differences in reaction to The Pregnancy Book over the other two books sent, but this seemed to be a result of the women thinking well of whichever particular book they had received. Though it should be noted that a number disliked the labour illustrations and two were not keen on the sections about when pregnancy goes wrong, there was nothing to suggest that the women would dislike receiving this book.