The Pink Star Clinic was first started as a quality improvement project for adolescent pregnancy care, which was initiated by the of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing Mahidol University andlater funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to develop a continuing care system for adolescent pregnant women by nurse-midwives.
The clinic's caring principles are as follows:
- providing options for their pregnancy
- promoting self-care and preventing pregnancy complications
- enhancing parenting skills
- promoting family support, and
- preventing repeat pregnancy
The outcomes of the project showed that adolescents: 1) had better self-care knowledge, 2) received better preparation for childbirth and parenting skills, 3) used more long-termed contraception, i.e., implant, and, 4) their families were more involved in prenatal and postnatal care. The outcomes mentioned impact the clinicians' perspectives toward adolescent pregnancy. They changed their perspectives from unawareness of continuing care to advocating for implementing this care model, especially for vulnerable groups such as adolescent pregnant women, and gained more confidence in providing care. Likewise, visiting scholars, such as doctors or nurses trained in adolescent pregnancy care, saw the importance of this model, changed their attitudes and perspectives on caring for adolescents, and had a better understanding which resulted in becoming both optimistic caregivers and clients.
In addition, the experience and knowledge in clinical were transferred to Mahidol Model activities to develop a care system for teenage pregnancy in the area of the Salaya sub-district. As a result, the Teenage Pregnancy Clinic was established in Phutthamonthon Hospital, separated from general maternity care. Moreover, the healthcare team changed their caring approaches for adolescent pregnancy.