Nurse Home Visitation Has Powerful and Enduring Effects

Abstract

Community Pediatrics| March 01 2005 Nurse Home Visitation Has Powerful and Enduring Effects AAP Grand Rounds (2005) 13 (3): 26–27. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.13-3-26 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Nurse Home Visitation Has Powerful and Enduring Effects. AAP Grand Rounds March 2005; 13 (3): 26–27. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.13-3-26 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: home visits Sources: (1) Olds DL, Kitzman H, Cole R, et al. Effects of nurse home-visiting on maternal life course and child development: age 6 follow-up results of a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2004; 114:1550–1559. (2) Olds DL, Robinson J, Pettitt L, et al. Effects of home visits by paraprofessionals and by nurses: age 4 follow-up results of a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2004; 114:1560–1568. These 2 reports come from a research team that has been studying the effect of home visitation on maternal and child health for the past 25 years in a small community/ rural area (Elmira, NY), in an ethnically diverse metropolitan area (Denver, Colo), and in a predominantly black inner-city area (Memphis, Tenn). The first of these reports continues the follow-up of the study cohort in Memphis and examines whether the positive effects on mothers’ life courses and children’s cognitive and social development endure 4 years after the intervention (children at age 6). The mothers enrolled in the study were recruited from the obstetrics clinic of the Regional Medical Center in Memphis between 1990 and 1991. Women at <29 weeks gestation were recruited if they had no previous live births, no chronic illness detrimental to the fetus, and at least 2 of these 3 social characteristics: unmarried, less than 12 years of education, or unemployed. From 1290 consecutive women meeting these criteria, 1139 consented to participate, 693 were available for follow-up, 641 maternal assessments were completed, and 615 child assessments were completed. Maternal life course indicators included number and timing of subsequent pregnancies, education, employment, and durability of partner relationships. Child assessments included cognitive skills, language development and academic achievement, and social development. Mothers and infants were randomized into 4 treatment groups. For this report, 2 groups were compared. The intervention group of mothers received free transportation to their prenatal visits, nurse home visits during pregnancy, 1 postpartum nurse visit in the hospital, and nurse home visits until the child’s second birthday. Study mothers received a mean of 26 visits during their babies’ first 2 years. The control group received free transport to prenatal visits and developmental screening and referral for their children at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. The nurse-visited women had significantly fewer subsequent pregnancies (1.16 vs 1.38) and births (1.08 vs 1.28), less reliance on welfare (7.2 months vs 9 months), longer-relationships with current partners (54 months vs 45 months), and were more likely to enroll their children in pre-K programs (82% vs 75%). Nurse-visited children had significantly higher IQ’s (92.3 vs 90.2) and language scores (84.3 vs 82.1) and fewer significant behavior problems (1.8% vs 5.4%). The second report addresses the issue of paraprofessional versus nurse home visitation from pregnancy through child age 2 years. Paraprofessionals had a high school education but no college preparation in the helping professions, and strong “people skills.” Both paraprofessionals and nurses received 1 month of intensive training. The study population (n=735) in Denver included 3 arms with participants randomized... You do not currently have access to this content.