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. 2017 Jun;20(9):1666-1680.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980017000271. Epub 2017 Mar 15.

Come On! Using intervention mapping to help healthy pregnant women achieve healthy weight gain

Astrid Merkx  1 , Marlein Ausems  1 , Raymond de Vries  1 , Marianne J Nieuwenhuijze  1
Affiliations

Come On! Using intervention mapping to help healthy pregnant women achieve healthy weight gain

Astrid Merkx et al. Public Health Nutr. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Gaining too much or too little weight in pregnancy (according to Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines) negatively affects both mother and child, but many women find it difficult to manage their gestational weight gain (GWG). Here we describe the use of the intervention mapping protocol to design 'Come On!', an intervention to promote adequate GWG among healthy pregnant women.

Design: We used the six steps of intervention mapping: (i) needs assessment; (ii) formulation of change objectives; (iii) selection of theory-based methods and practical strategies; (iv) development of the intervention programme; (v) development of an adoption and implementation plan; and (vi) development of an evaluation plan. A consortium of users and related professionals guided the process of development.

Results: As a result of the needs assessment, two goals for the intervention were formulated: (i) helping healthy pregnant women to stay within the IOM guidelines for GWG; and (ii) getting midwives to adequately support the efforts of healthy pregnant women to gain weight within the IOM guidelines. To reach these goals, change objectives and determinants influencing the change objectives were formulated. Theories used were the Transtheoretical Model, Social Cognitive Theory and the Elaboration Likelihood Model. Practical strategies to use the theories were the foundation for the development of 'Come On!', a comprehensive programme that included a tailored Internet programme for pregnant women, training for midwives, an information card for midwives, and a scheduled discussion between the midwife and the pregnant woman during pregnancy. The programme was pre-tested and evaluated in an effect study.

Keywords: Gestational weight gain; Goal setting; Intervention development; Nutritional advice; Promoting healthy pregnancy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example of an individualized graphical gestational weight gain (GWG) growth curve (formula image) adjusted to women’s pre-pregnancy BMI, indicating whether GWG is within (formula image), above (formula image) or below (formula image) the Institute of Medicine guidelines for a healthy GWG
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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