Citation

Reading R. Child Care Health Dev. 2007; 33(4): 505.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00774_7.x

PMID

17584415

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an intensive home visiting programme in improving outcomes for vulnerable families.

Design Multicentre randomized controlled trial in which eligible women were allocated to receive home visiting (n = 67) or standard services (n = 64). Incremental cost analysis.

Setting 40 general practitioner practices across two counties in the UK. Participants 131 vulnerable pregnant women. Intervention Selected health visitors were trained in the Family Partnership Model to provide a weekly home visiting service from 6 months antenatally to 12 months post-natally.

Main outcome measures Mother-child interaction, maternal psychological health attitudes and behaviour, infant functioning and development, and risk of neglect or abuse.

Results At 12 months, differences favouring the home-visited group were observed on an independent assessment of maternal sensitivity (P < 0.04) and infant cooperativeness (P < 0.02). No differences were identified on any other measures. A non-significant increase in the likelihood of intervention group infants being the subject of child protection proceedings, or being removed from the home, and one death in the control group were found. The mean incremental cost per infant of the home visiting intervention was pound3246 (bootstrapped 95% CI for the difference pound1645-4803).

Conclusion This intervention may have the potential to improve parenting and increase the identification of infants at risk of abuse and neglect in vulnerable families. Further investigation is needed, along with long-term follow-up to assess possible sleeper effects.

Language: en