An Early Demonstration of Educational Intervention Beginning at Birth

Abstract

In an attempt to reverse the prognosis for premature, low birthweight infants born to low SES mothers, the Infant Stimulation/Mother Training (IS/MT) Project designed a comprehensive educational program to complement the extensive medical services already in place. Beginning at birth in a special care nursery and continuing throughout the infant's first 12 months of life, 86 low birthweight infants delivered at Cincinnati General Hospital (CGH) and their families were eligible for all or part of the service program. This article presents an overview of (a) description of population served, (b) variety of treatment events offered, and (c) evaluation of changes documented. Because of the many service options that were available for parents and infants, single treatment effects were difficult to evaluate. This then is a descriptive study that illuminates the conditions surrounding high-risk status, the variety of treatment events employed, and the changes in physical and social support systems that were introduced. It is intended to provide direction to those who may follow in designing similar intervention efforts.