PEDIATRICS Vol. 66 No. 2 August 1980, pp. 191-197
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Efficacy of Prenatal and Postpartum Home Visits on Child Health and Development

Charles P. Larson MD1

1 Department of Pediatrics, McGill University and Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal

This study is a controlled evaluation of the efficacy of home visits designed to promote better child health and development for infants of working class families. Each of the 115 mother-infant pairs meeting the study criteria was assigned to one of three comparable groups: group A received home visits starting prenatally; group B received visits from six weeks post partum; and group C received no visits. Home observations were completed by an independent evaluator at 6 weeks, 6, 12, and 18 months of age. Significant differences favoring group A over groups B and C were found at each evaluation period. These included: (1) a reduced accident rate; (2) higher scores on assessments of home environment and maternal behavior; and (3) a lower prevalence of mother-infant interaction or feeding problems and of nonparticipant fathers. Aside from a reduction in the accident rate, group B did not benefit from the home visits when compared to control infants. The results support the efficacy of home visits, but only if a prenatal visit is included. These findings suggest that a unique relationship is created between the mother and home visitor and this relationship is sensitive to the timing of the initial encounter.

Submitted on January 4, 1980
Accepted on April 8, 1980




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