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 Vol. 13 No. 3, March 2005
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AAP Grand Rounds 13:26-27 (2005)
© 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

COMMUNITY PEDIATRICS

Nurse Home Visitation Has Powerful and Enduring Effects

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.[Abstract/Free Full Text] (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.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

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, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Stanley I. Fisch, MD, FAAP
Private practice, Harlingen, TX