- For First Time Families

Purpose of study and programme details

Are you pregnant with your first child? Taking on the role of first-time parents can be challenging. We are studying better ways to enable our first-time families to be prepared for the first 1000-days of pregnancy. We want to better empower and equip first-time families during pregnancy and in the first two years of parenthood through regular follow-ups and assessments. This is a study which will span across three years, and we will have contact with you from your first/second trimester until your child turns two years of age.

If you agree to take part in this study, you will be randomly assigned into one of three groups.

Group 1	You will be invited to our half-yearly health education events (webinars) conducted by our panel of healthcare providers (i.e. Obstetricians, Paediatricians and Midwives) on pregnancy and early childhood topics.
Group 2	You will be enrolled to a private social media platform and will receive nudges in the form of short text messages on important aspects of mother and child nutrition during pregnancy, health and growth during pregnancy; until the child turns two years of age. We will be using a closed Facebook group where participants in the same group can have access to useful information pertaining to pregnancy and early childhood, and share their experiences and learn from each other. This is a restricted and by-invitation-only social media forum that will be curated.
Group 3	You will have contact with KKH midwives to address your concerns during pregnancy, two individualised teleconferencing sessions within the first two weeks after birth and phone calls at six weeks, three months and six months after delivery. During your sessions with the midwives, they aim to guide you by providing advice on self-care after birth, as well as sharing knowledge and skills to respond to your baby’s needs at different stages of development.

The programme is free of charge and will not affect your routine care at KKH.

What is required from participants:

Throughout the study period, you will be required to complete online questionnaires at various timepoints. For your convenience, we will send the survey link to your mobile phone for your completion.

Online survey questionnaires will be provided at the following timepoints:

First trimester routine care at KKH
Third trimester visit at KKH
Six-weeks postpartum check-up at KKH
When your child is 6 months old
When your child is 12 months old
When your child is 18 months old
When your child is 24 months old

Your survey responses will determine which is the most effective method of engagement to help first-time families improve their self-efficacy in parenting. All information collected will be kept strictly confidential.