Home Observation For Measurement Of The Environment Scores Research Articles

Infant Behaviors, Prenatal Cocaine Exposure, and Adult Intelligence.

Linking prenatal drug exposures to both infant behavior and adult cognitive outcomes may improve early interventions. To assess whether neonatal physical, neurobehavioral, and infant cognitive measures mediate the association between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and adult perceptual reasoning IQ. This study used data from a longitudinal, prospective birth cohort study with follow-up from 1994 to 2018 until offspring were 21 years post partum. A total of 384 (196 PCE and 188 not exposed to cocaine [NCE]) infants and mothers were screened for cocaine or polydrug use. Structural equation modeling was performed from June to November 2023. Prenatal exposures to cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco assessed through urine and meconium analyses and maternal self-report. Head circumference, neurobehavioral assessment, Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence score, Wechsler Perceptual Reasoning IQ, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score, and blood lead level. Among the 384 mothers in the study, the mean (SD) age at delivery was 27.7 (5.3) years (range, 18-41 years), 375 of 383 received public assistance (97.9%) and 336 were unmarried (87.5%). Birth head circumference (standardized estimate for specific path association, -0.05, SE = 0.02; P = .02) and 1-year Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) (standardized estimate for total of the specific path association, -0.05, SE = 0.02; P = .03) mediated the association of PCE with Wechsler Perceptual Reasoning IQ, controlling for HOME score and other substance exposures. Abnormal results on the neurobehavioral assessment were associated with birth head circumference (β = -0.20, SE = 0.08; P = .01). Bayley Psychomotor Index (β = 0.39, SE = 0.05; P < .001) and Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence score (β = 0.16, SE = 0.06; P = .01) at 6.5 months correlated with MDI at 12 months. In this cohort study, a negative association of PCE with adult perceptual reasoning IQ was mediated by early physical and behavioral differences, after controlling for other drug and environmental factors. Development of infant behavioral assessments to identify sequelae of prenatal teratogens early in life may improve long-term outcomes and public health awareness.

Maternal pregnancy diet, postnatal home environment and executive function and behavior in 3- to 4-y-olds

Optimal maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been linked to better cognitive and behavioral development in children. However, its influence on the effects of suboptimal postnatal exposures like reduced stimulation and support in the home is not known. To examine the effect of maternal pregnancy diet on executive function and/or behavioral development in children raised in suboptimal home environments. Data were provided by 808 mother-infant dyads from the Canadian Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals-Child Development study. Maternal pregnancy diet was self-reported using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 questionnaire. Stimulation and support in the home was assessed using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) when children were 3-4 y old. Child executive function was reported by mothers at this age using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Preschool Edition, and child behavior was assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2nd Edition. We examined the interaction of maternal pregnancy diet and postnatal HOME scores on child executive function and behavior using linear regression adjusted for maternal education, postpartum depression, prepregnancy BMI, and smoking. Maternal pregnancy diet was associated with an increasingly positive association with child working memory (β: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.82, 3.41; P=0.001), planning (β: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.38, 2.84; P=0.007), and adaptability (β: -0.13; 95% CI: -1.72, -0.08; P=0.032) as levels of postnatal stimulation decreased. The positive association of maternal pregnancy diet quality and executive function and adaptability in 3- to 4-y-olds appeared to increase with decreasing levels of postnatal stimulation and support. These results suggest that overall maternal pregnancy diet could be linked to better child neurodevelopment in families experiencing barriers to providing stimulation and support to children in their home.

Associations of prenatal organochlorine and metal exposures with anxiety and depressive disorder diagnoses in the New Bedford Cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The extent to which chemical exposures influence mental health has not been well characterized. We evaluated associations of anxiety and depressive disorder diagnoses with prenatal organochlorine and metal exposures, considering effect modification by quality of the home environment. METHODS: Participants were 172 adults (19-25 years), from a prospective cohort recruited at birth (1993-1998) in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Hexachlorobenzene, p,p'-dichlorobiphenyl dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (∑PCB4), lead, and manganese levels were analyzed in cord serum or blood. Physician-diagnosis of an anxiety or depressive disorder in the past ten years was ascertained via self-reported medical history. We estimated covariate-adjusted risk ratios, overall and in strata of adolescent Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score, using complete case and inverse probability weighting (IPW). RESULTS:In our socioeconomically diverse cohort (22% Non-White; 30% household income $20,000 at birth), chemical concentrations were consistent with background exposure levels. Higher prenatal p,p’-DDE was associated with increased risk of anxiety and depressive disorder diagnoses, with effect modification by HOME score. For example, a doubling of cord serum p,p’-DDE was associated with 1.51 increased risk [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 2.11)] of anxiety in those with higher quality home environments and 0.67 lower risk (95% CI: 0.45, 1.00; p-interaction=0.01) in those with poorer HOME scores. This effect modification pattern was also present for ∑PCB4, but associations were attenuated with IPW compared to complete case. In IPW models, cord blood lead was associated with higher risk of anxiety and depression in those with a higher HOME score (e.g., depression risk ratio: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.26 per doubling lead). Hexachlorobenzene and manganese were not associated with either anxiety or depression. CONCLUSIONS:Prenatal p,p’-DDE and lead exposure may increase susceptibility to anxiety and depression. Varying risk was observed in different HOME strata, demonstrating the importance of considering interactions between chemical and non-chemical stressors. KEYWORDS: Chemical exposures, heavy metals, metal health outcomes, non-chemical stressors

Effect of home environment on academic achievement in child protective service-involved children: Results from the second national survey of child and adolescent well-being study

BackgroundChildren involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) have been shown to have lower academic achievement. It is unclear whether certain qualities of the home environment can optimize academic achievement in this vulnerable population. ObjectiveThis study sought to determine whether home environments with higher levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation predict later academic achievement and whether this relationship is moderated by placement type (i.e. biological/adoptive parent care, kinship care, or non-kinship foster care). Participants and SettingThis study included 1,206 children from the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW-II) who were involved with CPS between 2–7 years of age. MethodsMultivariate analyses were completed to examine the effect of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score on later Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ-ACH) scores. Moderation analyses were conducted to determine the effect of placement type on this relationship. ResultsAlthough these relationships between HOME scores and WJ-ACH scores were significant in bivariate analyses, they were not statistically significant in multivariate analyses, primarily due to the variable of household income. Although children placed primarily in non-kinship foster care demonstrated higher WJ-ACH scores for Passage Comprehension and Letter-Word Identification subscales, placement type did not appear to moderate the relationship between HOME scores and academic achievement. ConclusionChild- and caregiver-level factors, as well as financial resources available in the environment, may account for the relationship between home environment and academic achievement.

Single Time-Point Study of the Home Environment and Functionality of Older Adults in Spain.

Background: The literature favors discussion on socio-spatial conditions at the macro- (city) and micro- (housing) level that promote healthy aging in place. Objectives: (a) Identify the association between physical and social characteristics of the family home and the functional level and quality of life of older people and (b) provide normative data on adequate/inadequate households based on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory and the Spanish Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (S-IQCODE) test. Methods: In total, 79 healthy older adults completed the HOME inventory and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), S-IQCODE, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) and ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) tests. A regression model, the effect size and the means of the scores of HOME (adequate/inadequate) test and the cognitive level (optimal/normal) were calculated. Results: The regression model discloses that adequate home scores are associated with cognitive level (odds ratio (OR): 0.955, confidence interval (CI)95%: 0.918–0.955); quality of life (OR: 6.542, CI95%: 1.750–24.457), living with other people (OR: 5.753, CI95%: 1.456–22.733) and level of education (OR: 0.252, CI95%: 0.064–0.991). The normative data between HOME and S-IQCODE scores showed a good adjustment (d = 0.70). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between the physical environment of the home and personal variables (sociodemographic information, quality of life and cognitive functionality). In addition, from this last variable, the normative data of an adequate/inadequate household for an older person have been established.

The relationship between responsive caregiving and child outcomes: evidence from direct observations of mother-child dyads in Pakistan

BackgroundResponsive caregiving, or interactions in which caregivers give appropriate responses to a child’s signals, is linked to improved psychosocial, cognitive and physical outcomes in children. However, much remains unknown about how responsive caregiving affects child development across cultural and socioeconomic contexts. The purpose of this study is to examine predictors of maternal responsive caregiving and investigate how these interactions are associated with children’s development.MethodsData for the current analyses came from a longitudinal study designed to follow mothers from the third trimester through the first three years of the child’s life. To assess responsive caregiving, the Observation of Mother-Child Interaction (OMCI) measure was used to examine maternal and child behaviors during a 5-min picture book activity at 24 months. Outcomes included child height-for-age z-score and child socioemotional development, using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Socioemotional (ASQ-SE) in which lower scores demonstrated better development. Using mean comparisons, the effects of baseline sociodemographic factors and maternal depression on responsive caregiving were tested. Analyses utilized hierarchical linear regressions to examine cross-sectional associations between responsive caregiving and child development outcomes at 24 months. Additional analyses controlled for the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME), a common measure in low-income contexts of caregiving, to assess whether OMCI was uniquely predictive of child outcomes.ResultsHigher maternal education attainment, lower number of children, greater socioeconomic assets, and lack of maternal depression were associated with higher levels of observed responsive caregiving behaviors. Higher total OMCI scores were associated with positive child socioemotional outcomes in adjusted models (β: -0.84, 95% CI [− 1.40, − 0.29]). The finding was statistically significant, even after controlling for HOME score (β: -0.83, 95% CI [− 1.38, − 0.27]). There was no association between OMCI scores and child linear growth.ConclusionsResponsive caregiving is linked to positive child socioemotional development in rural Pakistan. Our findings suggest that incorporating responsive caregiving into child health interventions in LMIC may have valuable impacts on child socioemotional development. The OMCI may be useful in identifying important pathways for change to responsive caregiving behaviors and may be of service for future interventions that optimize child development through responsive caregiving.Trial registrationNCT02111915 (09/18/2015); NCT02658994 (01/22/2016). Trials were prospectively registered.

The Combined Influence of Air Pollution and Home Learning Environment on Early Cognitive Skills in Children.

Cognitive skills are one component of school readiness that reflect a child’s neurodevelopment and are influenced by environmental and social factors. Most studies assess the impact of these factors individually, without taking into consideration the complex interactions of multiple factors. The objective of this study was to examine the joint association of markers of environmental pollution and of social factors on early cognitive skills in an urban cohort of children. For this, we chose isophorone in ambient air as a marker of industrial air pollution. Low quality home learning environments was chosen as a marker of the social factors contributing to cognitive development. Using a subpopulation from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (N = 4050), isophorone exposure was assigned using the 2002 National Air Toxics Assessment. Home learning environment was assessed with a modified version of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory, and standardized math assessment scores were used as a measure of early cognitive skills. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the effect of both exposures on math scores. After adjustment for confounders, children living in areas with ambient isophorone in the upper quintile of exposure (>0.49 ng/m3) had math scores that were 1.63 points lower than their less exposed peers [95% CI: −2.91, −0.34], and children with lower HOME scores (at or below 9 out of 12) had math scores that were 1.20 points lower than children with better HOME scores [95% CI: −2.30, −0.10]. In adjusted models accounting for identified confounders and both exposures of interest, both high isophorone exposure and low HOME score remained independently associated with math scores [−1.48, 95% CI: −2.79, −0.18; −1.05, 95% CI: −2.15, 0.05, respectively]. There was no statistical evidence of interaction between the two exposures, although children with both higher isophorone exposure and a low HOME score had a decrement in math scale score beyond the additive effect of each exposure. This was primarily observed among male children. These findings suggest that aspects of both the physical and social environments are independently associated with children’s early cognitive skills. Future research aiming to improve children’s early cognitive skills and subsequent school readiness should address both domains.

A pilot study of parent education intervention improves early childhood development among toddlers with sickle cell disease.

Young children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for cognitive delay. In addition to biologic risk factors associated with SCD, environmental factors contribute to cognitive dysfunction within this cohort. We completed a single-arm, prospective cohort study. Children with SCD between the ages of 3 and 36 months and their caregivers were followed between October 2010 and December 2013. The aim was to describe the role of a home visitation model, the home environment, and socioeconomic status in the development of young children with SCD. Primary outcome measures were the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). We hypothesized that the home visitation model, Parents as Teachers® (PAT), would encourage positive parent-child interactions and improve cognitive outcomes. Thirty-five participants had at least two PAT visits and BSID-III assessments. Mean scores within all five subtests of the BSID-III improved between enrollment and exit, with significant changes within cognitive (P = 0.016) and expressive language (EL) domains (P = 0.002). Multivariate modeling found the HOME score associated with the exit results of the cognitive domain. We report longitudinal results of the first home visitation program within the early childhood SCD population and show significant improvement in cognitive and EL development. Additionally, home environment was a significant predictor of cognitive development. Randomized controlled trials to test the impact of interventions targeting the home environment are warranted for this vulnerable population.

A Pilot Study of Parent Education Intervention Improves Early Childhood Development Among Toddlers with Sickle Cell Disease

Background: Young children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at high risk of cognitive delay. In a previous study, >50% of the infants and toddlers in our SCD clinic were significantly delayed (scaled scores 7 or below) in cognitive and language skills. These developmental delays were related to the home environment, but not to biologic risk factors associated with SCD. We hypothesized that a parent education program to encourage positive parent-child interactions would improve developmental outcomes.Methods: Children with SCD, ages 1 - 36 months, living in stable housing within 30 miles of the hospital and with caregivers who spoke fluent English were enrolled over a three-year period in a pilot study of a single-arm behavioral intervention. Caregivers consented to participate in an accredited Parents as Teachers (PAT) Born to Learn curriculum, and to complete Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) assessments. An occupational therapist, certified as a PAT provider, completed all services and assessments. Home visits were scheduled monthly, but participants could cancel or reschedule at their discretion. Participation continued until the child was older than 3.5 years, or the parent chose to exit, or at the end of the three-year pilot period. SCD measures were extracted from medical records upon enrollment in the study. Analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 22, Chicago, IL). Continuous data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test for comparisons over time.Results: Thirty-five participants (20 male; 16 HbSS, 15 HbSC, 1 HbS beta thalassemia0, 1 HbS beta thalassemia+, 2 HbS with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin) had at least 2 PAT visits with BSID-III assessments. The mean ages of children was 7.9 + 6 months (range, 1-34 months) and of primary caregivers was 25.2 + 5 years (range, 15-35). At baseline, the children's hematocrit was 28.0 + 3.5% (range, 22-39) and their pulse oximetry was 99 + 1.3% (range, 96-100). The median number of home visits was 12 (range, 2-41) over a median of 18 months (range, 2-32). None of the biological variables significantly correlated with the BSID-III domains, but the HOME scores correlated with cognition (r=.410, p=.014). While there was no significant difference in the pre/post HOME scores over time (pre: 29.2, post: 31.3, n=14; p=.161), statistically significant improvements occurred in the cognitive (p=.016) and expressive language domains (p=.002). Table I provides longitudinal BSID-III results.Table 1BSID-III Scores of Toddlers with SCD at Entry and Exit to Parent Education Intervention.% with scaled scores < 7MeanMean change ± SDGross MotorTime 132.68.70.7 + 3.0Exit11.49.5Fine MotorTime 131.78.01.0 + 3.9Exit28.68.8CognitiveTime 151.27.31.4 + 3.4*Exit29.48.8Receptive LanguageTime 144.27.60.9 + 3.9Exit38.28.6Expressive LanguageTime 158.16.91.9 + 3.0*Exit26.58.7*= p < .05.Conclusion: Young children with SCD are at high risk for poor developmental outcomes. This is the first parenting intervention to specifically target parents of young children with SCD, and significant improvements occurred in the children's cognitive and expressive language domains. Further investigation is warranted to test the effect of implementation of this evidence-based intervention in a larger cohort of this vulnerable population. DisclosuresFields:Neurophage: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Maintaining a Social‐Emotional Intervention and Its Benefits for Institutionalized Children

This article reports the maintenance of one of the largest interventions conducted in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) orphanages for children birth to 4years using regular caregiving staff. One orphanage received training plus structural changes, another training only, and a third business as usual. The intervention produced substantial differences between these institutions on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory and on the Battelle Developmental Inventory scores for children. These institutional differences in HOME scores (N=298) and Battelle scores for children (N=357) departing the institutions for families in St. Petersburg and the United States were maintained for at least 6years after the intervention project. This result may be associated with certain features of the intervention and activities conducted during the follow-up interval.

Effects of psychosocial stimulation on improving home environment and child-rearing practices: results from a community-based trial among severely malnourished children in Bangladesh

BackgroundParenting programmes are effective in enhancing parenting practices and child development. This study evaluated the effects of a intervention with psychosocial stimulation (PS) on the quality of the home environment and mothers’ child-rearing practices in a community-based trial with severely malnourished Bangladeshi children.MethodSeverely underweight children (n = 507), 6–24 months of age, were randomly assigned to five groups: PS; food supplementation (FS); PS + FS; clinic-control (CC); and, hospital-control (CH). PS included fortnightly follow-up visits for six months at community clinics where a play leader demonstrated play activities and gave education on child development and child rearing practices. FS comprised cereal-based supplements (150–300 kcal/day) for three months. All groups received medical care, micronutrient supplements and growth monitoring. Mothers were given the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory and a questionnaire on parenting at baseline and after six months to assess the outcome.Results322 children completed the study. After six months of intervention the PS + FS and PS groups benefitted in the total HOME score (depending on the comparison group, effect sizes varied from 0.66 to 0.33 SD) The PS + FS and PS groups also benefitted in two HOME subscales: maternal involvement (effect sizes: 0.8 to 0.55 SD) and play materials, (effect sizes: 0.46 to 0.6 SD), and child-rearing practices scores (effect size: 1.5 to 1.1 SD). The PS + FS group benefitted 4.0 points in total HOME score compared with CH, 4.8 points compared with CC and 4.5 points compared with FS (p < 0.001 for all). The PS group benefitted 2.4 points compared with CH (p = 0.035), 3.3 points compared with CC (p = 0.004), and 2.9 points compared with FS (p = 0.006). Child-rearing practice scores of the PS + FS group improved 7.7, 6.4 and 6.6 points and the PS group improved 8.5, 7.2 and 7.4 points more than CH, CC and FS, respectively (p < 0.001 for all).ConclusionsChild-rearing practices of mothers of severely malnourished children and the quality of their home environment can be improved through community-based psychosocial stimulation with or without food supplementation. This may be of importance to promote child development.

Home environment: association with hyperactivity/impulsivity in children with ADHD and their non-ADHD siblings.

We wished to ascertain if there is an association between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and home environment in children with ADHD and non-ADHD siblings, controlling for other environmental measures. 96 children with ADHD combined type (ADHD-CT) and their siblings participated in the study. Parent and teacher Conners' rating scales were completed and home environment was assessed using the middle childhood and early adolescent Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). ADHD symptoms were assessed for correlation with HOME in children with ADHD-CT and non-ADHD siblings and multiple regression analysis was used to control for gender, socio-economic status, exposure to nicotine, exposure to alcohol in utero, birth weight, gestational age, pregnancy and perinatal risk factors. The presence of oppositional disorders was assessed for association with HOME score in those with ADHD-CT. The multiple regression analysis was repeated controlling for environmental factors and for oppositional disorders in those with ADHD-CT. Oppositional symptoms were assessed for correlation with HOME score in non-ADHD siblings. Teacher-rated hyperactive/impulsive scores correlated with HOME (r=-0.27, P < 0.01) in children with ADHD-CT. This association remained significant when other environmental factors and oppositional disorders were controlled for. Environmental factors and gender contributed to 30% of the variance of ADHD symptoms in ADHD-CT. Parent-rated hyperactive/impulsive scores also correlated with HOME (r=-0.28, P < 0.05) for non-ADHD siblings. An association between HOME and diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder was found for children with ADHD-CT and between HOME and oppositional symptoms in non-ADHD siblings. The home environment has a small but significant association with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms in children with ADHD-CT and non-ADHD siblings. This association remained when other environmental factors were taken into account. Oppositional symptoms are associated with home environment in ADHD-CT and in non-ADHD siblings.

Estimulação ambiental e uso do andador infantil por lactentes com desenvolvimento normal

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a quantidade e qualidade de estímulos ambientais disponíveis para lactentes com desenvolvimento normal que fizeram uso do andador infantil anteriormente à aquisição da marcha independente. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal, com 24 lactentes distribuídos em dois grupos, sendo 12 do grupo exposto ao andador infantil (AI) e 12 do grupo não-exposto (C), mantendo-se equivalência entre grupos em idade, sexo e nível sócio econômico da família. O teste Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) documentou os estímulos oferecidos pelo ambiente. Teste-t de Student para amostras independentes comparou os escores médios do teste HOME de ambos os grupos, considerando o nível de significância α=0,05. RESULTADOS: diferenças no teste HOME foram observadas, tendo o grupo AI obtido escores superiores ao grupo C (p=0,014), com efeito de magnitude fraca (d=0,24). CONCLUSÕES: o uso do voador infantil no período pré-aquisição da marcha por lactentes com desenvolvimento normal, pode estar associado a ambientes domiciliares mais estimuladores.

Relationship between very low birth weight, environmental factors, and motor and cognitive development of children of 5 and 6 years old

To examine the relationships between birth weight, preterm birth, environmental factors and the motor and cognitive development of 5 to 6 year-old children. A case control study in which the motor and cognitive performance, as well as the home environment of children aged 5-6 years, born pre-term and weighing <1.500 grams, were compared to peers born full-term and with normal weight. The following testes were used: Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ), the vocabulary and cube tests of the Weschsler Intelligence Test for Children-III (WISC), the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham IV Scale (SNAP IV) and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). 50.54% of the very low birth weight (VLBW) children died and 15.2% of them demonstrated severe impairments. The scores (±SD) of the VLBW and normal birth weight (NBW) groups were: HOME 33.83±7.81(VLBW), 39.61±8.75(NBW); MABC 8.17±7,10(VLBW), 3.06±3.80(NBW); DCDQ 54.0±11.3(VLBW), 63.0±7.5(NBW); WISC Cubes 8.35±2.15(VLBW), 10.57±2.25(NBW); WISC Vocabulary 9.61±2.62(VLBW), 13.48±2.45(NBW); SNAP IV 4.04±4.95(VLBW), 1.57±3.27(NBW). Significant differences between the groups were found, with higher scores on all measures for the NBW group. The results of the motor and cognitive tests demonstrated correlations with birth weight (p<0.01) and HOME scores (p<0.05). The findings reaffirmed the evidences that children born pre-term and with VLBW were more vulnerable to have motor and cognitive impairments, compared to those born full-term. Environmental factors appeared to interfere with development of these children.

Exposure to hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) in the prenatal period and subsequent neurodevelopment in eastern Slovakia.

BackgroundHydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs), unlike PCBs, are in general readily excreted yet are still detected in humans and animals. Active transport of OH-PCBs across the placenta and hydroxylation of PCBs by the fetus suggest the potential for greater impact on the fetus compared with the parent PCB compounds, but little is known about their health effects, particularly in humans.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between prenatal OH-PCB exposure and neurodevelopment in children at 16 months of age in eastern Slovakia.MethodsA birth cohort (n = 1,134) was enrolled during 2002–2004. We analyzed six OH-PCB metabolites (4-OH-CB-107, 3-OH-CB-153, 4-OH-CB-146, 3′-OH-CB-138, 4-OH-CB-187, and 4′-OH-CB-172) in a subset of the cohort. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to the children at the 16-month follow-up visit. We developed multiple linear regression models predicting standardized scores for the Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) from maternal (n = 147) and cord (n = 80) serum OH-PCB concentrations, adjusting for sex of child, district, HOME (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment) score, and maternal score on Raven’s Progressive Matrices.ResultsCord 4-OH-CB-107 was significantly associated with lower MDI (β = −2.27; p = 0.01) and PDI (β = −4.50; p = 0.004). Also, maternal 4-OH-CB-107 was significantly associated with lower MDI (β = −1.76; p = 0.03) but not PDI. No other OH-PCB metabolites were associated with decreased PDI or MDI.ConclusionsOur findings showed a significant association of 4-OH-CB-107 with decreased MDI, which can possibly be mediated by endocrine disruption, altered neurotransmitter functions, or reduced thyroid hormone concentrations in brain.

Psychosocial care and nutritional status of children aged 6-36 months among patrilineal (Karo) and matrilineal (Minangkabau) households in Jakarta.

A study on psychosocial care among Karo (patrilineal kinship) and Minangkabau (matrilineal kinship) households who lived in Jakarta, Indonesia was aimed at investigating psychosocial care practices of mothers and the relation of psychosocial care to the nutritional status of children aged 6-36 months as indicated by Weight-for-Age (WFA), Weight-for-Height (WFH), and Height-for-Age (HFA) Z-scores. The study was a cross sectional study. The tool used to assess the psychosocial care was the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory scale for infants and toddlers. Psychosocial care of 52 respondents from Karo and 87 from Minangkabau were generally good. Out of the total 45 items of the six sub-scales HOME inventory, 1 item in sub-scale I (Emotional and verbal responsiveness), 4 items in sub-scale II (Acceptance of child's behavior), 1 item in sub-scale IV (Provision of play materials), 1 item in sub-scale V (Parental involvement with child), and 3 items in sub-scale VI (Opportunities for variety in daily stimulation) were statistically different between the two ethnic groups. More Minangkabau children were underweight and wasting compared to Karo children. Within the Karo group, well-nourished children in terms of WFA and WHA tended to have greater total HOME scores than their underweight and wasting counterparts. Among Minangkabau group, well-nourished children in terms of WFA, WHA, and HFA tended to have greater total HOME scores than their underweight, wasting, and stunting counterparts. The total HOME score of well-nourished Karo children in terms of WFA, WFH and HFA were greater than that of well-nourished Minangkabau children.

At HOME in Scotland: validation of the home observation for measurement of the environment inventory

This study used the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory to measure aspects of the quality and quantity of psychological stimulation and cognitive support available in the home environment of a sample of Scottish children and to examine the effectiveness of this measure in a British context. Forty-seven families who had previously attended parent-training programmes at family centres were assessed. The Middle Childhood (MC) and Early Adolescent (EA) version of the HOME were used with children aged between 8 and 13 years old. Measures of family adversity were also taken. There were no significant differences in the demographics of the MC-HOME and EA-HOME groups nor in their total HOME scores. Total HOME scores were compared with independent measures of family adversity. The results of the MC-HOME and the EA-HOME were similar to results reported for socially deprived American samples. This Scottish sample had similar MC-HOME and EA-HOME scores as previously reported in American samples and the HOME scores related strongly to family adversity, supplying a proximal link between social conditions and the environment of children. These results suggest that the HOME Inventory is reliable and has concurrent validity with measures of social adversity in a British sample.

Gender, ethnicity, and the interactions of prematurely born children and their mothers

This study examined the relationship of child gender and maternal ethnicity to the interactive behaviors of 53 3-year-old prematurely born children and their mothers. Boys and Non-White children had more developmental sequelae. Although most interactive behaviors did not differ by gender or ethnicity, mothers expressed more positive affect to girls than boys, and girls looked at their mothers more often and expressed more positive affect. White mothers expressed more positive affect, touched more, and had better scores on three Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory subscales and the total HOME score than Non-White mothers. Child behaviors did not differ by ethnicity. Gender and ethnic group differences were affected by maternal education and child illness severity. Thus, although the interactive behaviors of mothers and prematurely born children are related to both child gender and ethnicity, some of these effects are better explained by maternal education and child illness severity. The systems view of the mother-child relationship is used to interpret these findings.

The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Revisited.

This review describes the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). After describing the structure of the instrument, it shows how it has been used successfully in studies on normally developing children and on samples drawn from high-risk populations. These are followed by studies showing how the HOME has been used to evaluate interventions. Although most interventions are not designed primarily on the basis of the HOME outcomes, the instrument has been used as a measure of the effectiveness of the intervention schedule. HOME has been used extensively in research to reveal relationships between several aspects of the home environment and children's developmental outcomes. The very good relationship between HOME scores and children's measures of developmental competence has also been found in non-normative populations and research has attempted to identify the specific aspects of the home environment, as indexed by the HOME subscales that reveal the strengths or the weaknesses of homes of at-risk populations.

The mother-infant relationship in single, cohabiting, and married families: a case for marriage?

Single-mother, cohabiting 2-parent, and married 2-parent families with infants were compared on maternal and infant behavior, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) scores, and infant's security of attachment. Married mothers and their infants demonstrated more positive behavior and received higher HOME scores when the infant was 6 and 15 months old than did their cohabiting and single counterparts. Married families were also better off than single and cohabiting families on several demographic, parent personality, financial, and social context measures. Single and cohabiting families were similar across most measures. Selection variables (maternal age, ethnic group, and education) explained much, but not all, of the family structure differences in the mother-infant relationship and the HOME. Maternal psychological adjustment, attitudes about child rearing, income, and social support explained little of the family structure variation, suggesting that characteristics that preceded marriage and conception were important determinants of family structure differences.