Date of Award
1994
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Health Management
First Advisor
Daniel W. Kemper
Second Advisor
Betty LeMasters
Third Advisor
Cindy Plummer
Abstract
This thesis will focus on the incidence of premature births and how to reduce the frequency and costs associated with premature delivery. The emphasis is towards the development of a wellness program within a corporation which will accomplish these objectives within its population of female employees.
Research has shown that many of these premature births could be prevented if five major factors were controlled through health education and lifestyle changes. The five risk factors that increase the possibility of delivering prematurely are: lack of exercise prior to pregnancy, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, increased stress levels, and use of harmful drugs, legal and illegal. These are the risk factors that can be controlled through behavioral changes, and waiting until one is pregnant rs sometimes too late.
Due to the ability for a female to plan for pregnancy by using artificial contraceptives and monitoring one's monthly cycle, females may now take a more proactive approach to preparing for pregnancy. Rather than reacting to an emergency situation involving complications in pregnancy, females may use preventative measures to avoid the short-term and long-term effects of a premature birth. Not only do preventative measures help the female, but they help the company as well by decreasing costs associated with premature births.
Recommended Citation
Alves, Carley Brunner, "How to Reduce the Incidence of Premature Births, and Their Associated Costs, Via a Fivefold Corporate Wellness Program" (1994). Theses. 190.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/190
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