Black Women and the Preemie Prep for Parents (P3) Program: Exploratory Analysis of a Clinical Trial

Background: The smartphone Preemie Prep for Parents (P3) program was developed to address the gap in prenatal education of preterm birth in high-risk pregnancies. Despite a higher incidence of preterm birth, Black women are less likely to receive prenatal education. Methods: Pregnant women with medical conditions that predisposed them to preterm birth were randomized to receive the P3 program or links to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists webpages (control). The P3 group received periodic text messages, starting as early as 18 weeks gestational age, each with a link to a short, animated educational video. Participants completed the Parent Prematurity Knowledge Questionnaire, PROMIS Anxiety scale, and a feedback survey. This is a subgroup analysis of the Black, non-Hispanic participants in the P3 trial. Results: Of the 26 Black non-Hispanic women enrolled, the P3 group (n=14) had higher knowledge scores than the control group (n=12), 67.5% correct vs. 43.6% (difference 24.0; 95% CI, 7.4 to 40.6), without experiencing an increase in anxiety. More P3 participants reported discussing preterm birth with their partner (100%) than control participants (57%; difference 43; 95% CI, 6 to 80). Conclusions: The P3 program appears to be an effective method of providing preterm birth education to Black pregnant women.