Effects of Health Education Programs on the Health of Rural Pregnant Women in China

"The health education program will be conducted on the WeChat platform. The contents of health education include 1) knowledge about how to prevent anemia during pregnancy; 2) self-care education videos such as breastfeeding; 3) online courses on how to manage weight during pregnancy, and how to keep good emotions, etc.; 4) Nutrition and lifestyle guidance; 5) knowledge about recognition and prevention of risk factors or diseases: abortion, toxic substances, premature birth. The contents of health education will be totally shared 5 times from 12 weeks to 36 weeks in the pregnancy and once a month on the platform. Every participant should reply read after learning the contents. if they have any questions, they can reply for help for further connection with health professionals."

The participants will receive the same health education as the control group. The pregnant women will have one routine checkup a month from 12 weeks to 36 weeks in the hospital. And they will receive counseling with a midwife and a doctor after every routine checkup. The counseling will have a total of 5 times and once a month, 45 minutes per time. The professionals will evaluate health-promoting behaviors such as nutrition and physical activity based on the procedure of the health promotion model. The model includes four continued parts: prior behaviors; personal influences; interpersonal Influences; commitment to a plan of action. Finally, the professionals will give person-centered advice to help the participants practice the content of health education, keep health-promoting behaviors, and achieve a healthy lifestyle.