Group Prenatal Care Improves Pregnancy Outcomes at No Additional Cost

New Haven, Conn. — Group prenatal care can improve pregnancy outcomes in the area of reducing preterm births and increasing breastfeeding initiation, psychosocial function, and patient satisfaction, without incurring any additional costs over standard care, according to a study published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The lead author is Jeannette Ickovics, professor at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology & Public Health (EPH), with co-authors from Yale, Emory University, and the Centering Pregnancy and Parenting Association in Cheshire. Ickovics is head of EPH’s Social and Behavioral Science Program, deputy director of the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, and director of CARE: Community Alliance for Research and Engagement.