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Community Mothers Programme--seven year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of non-professional intervention in parenting
Published in:
J Public Health Med, Vol: 22, Page: 337-42
Publication Date:
September 2000
Aims & Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess child health, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, parenting skills, and maternal self-esteem following a Community Mothers Intervention Programme seven years earlier
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The Community Mothers Programme aims at using experienced volunteer mothers in disadvantaged areas to give support to first-time parents in rearing their children up to 1 year of age. The programme was evaluated by randomized controlled trial in 1990. METHODS: Seven years later, trial participants were interviewed about child health, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, parenting skills, and maternal self-esteem. The aim of this study was to see whether the demonstrated benefits at 1 year of age of this programme could be sustained at age 8. RESULTS: One-third of the original group (38 intervention, 38 control), were contacted and interviewed. The risk for having an accident requiring a hospital visit was lower in the intervention group: relative risk (RR) 0.59, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 0.31-1.11. Intervention children were more likely to visit the library weekly: RR 1.58, 95 per cent CI 1.10-2.26. Intervention mothers were more likely to check homework every night: RR 1.23, 95 per cent CI 1.05-1.43 (p=0.006); and to disagree with the statement 'children should be smacked for persistently bad behaviour': RR 2.11, 95 per cent CI 1.10-4.06. They were more likely to disagree with the statement 'I do not have much to be proud of': RR 1.24, 95 per cent CI 1.04-1.40; and to make a positive statement about motherhood than controls: RR 1.53, 95 per cent CI 1.06-2.20. Subsequent children of intervention mothers were more likely to have completed Haemophilus influenzae b: RR 1.26, 95 per cent CI 1.06-1.51; and polio immunization: RR 1.19, 95 per cent CI 1.02-1.40. CONCLUSIONS: The Community Mothers programme had sustained beneficial effects on parenting skills and maternal self-esteem 7 years later with benefit extending to subsequent children.
Authors:
Study Type:
Study Papers » A randomized controlled trial » Descriptive Studies - Studies with a health technology dimension
Categories:
community Mothers Intervention Programme
International Classification:
Evaluation of the effectiveness of community interventions of parenting skills
Keywords:
- Child
- Child Development
- Child Nutrition Physiology
- Child Rearing/ psychology
- Child Welfare/ classification
- Community Networks/ organization & administration
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Intervention Studies
- Interviews as Topic
- Ireland/epidemiology
- Mothers/ psychology
- Parenting/ psychology
- Poverty Areas
- Primary Prevention
- Program Evaluation
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Risk Factors
- Self Concept
- Social Support
Geography:
Republic of Ireland (Dublin)