History of Pre and Perinatal (PPN) Parent Education: A literature review

This literature review focuses on the history of pre- and perinatal (PPN) parenting education. The topic constituted one area examined to inform four studies included in a PhD program of research that investigated factors to consider when designing, developing, and delivering PPN parenting programs for the 21st century. This article discusses five topics that include: (a) an historical overview of PPN education in general; (b) programs and interventions that target mothers-only; (c) programs and interventions that target fathers-only; (d) programs and interventions that target couples during the transition to parenthood; and (e) opportunities for developing needs-based programs for future parents that can be empirically measured for effectiveness.