Health and Safety Intervention with First-Time Mothers
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The Community-Based Family Resource and Support (CBFRS) program is a home visit program that focuses on advancing the health and development of first-time mothers and infants through home visits. Experts recommend home visitation in order to improve the health of mothers and infants, improve cognitive development for failure-to-thrive children, and improve parent-child interactions. Many home visit programs have been implemented with wide variation in intensity, focus, and onset and with differing levels of success.
In this implementation of the CBFRS program by a university and county health department, the three main areas of focus were on maternal and child health and safety, family functioning and parenting. Participants in the program were first-time mothers who were enrolled before their 28th week of pregnancy, and received home visits on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (depending on their progression through the program) up until one year after the birth of the baby. Female professional home visitors were hired and supervised by the county health department, and all received a minimum of 40 hours of training. The mothers participating in the program received prenatal education on topics such as nutrition, alcohol, smoking, and fetal development. Health education was covered from birth to one year and focused on topics such as immunizations, effects of second-hand smoke and family planning.
In this implementation of the CBFRS program by a university and county health department, the three main areas of focus were on maternal and child health and safety, family functioning and parenting. Participants in the program were first-time mothers who were enrolled before their 28th week of pregnancy, and received home visits on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (depending on their progression through the program) up until one year after the birth of the baby. Female professional home visitors were hired and supervised by the county health department, and all received a minimum of 40 hours of training. The mothers participating in the program received prenatal education on topics such as nutrition, alcohol, smoking, and fetal development. Health education was covered from birth to one year and focused on topics such as immunizations, effects of second-hand smoke and family planning.
Goal / Mission
The goal of CBFRS is to advance the health and development of first-time mothers and infants through a home visit program.
Impact
The findings indicate positive health and safety outcomes for first-time mothers and infants in the program: higher household safety levels, higher use of birth control methods, lower smoking behavior, higher knowledge of the effects of smoking on child development, and higher use of county clinics.
Results / Accomplishments
A three year, quasi-experimental study with an intervention and control group was completed in 2006 to evaluate the effectiveness of the health and safety outcomes of the CBFRS program. Participants included an intervention group of 156 and a control group of 107 women from rural counties in a southwestern state. Women in the control group received standard health department services without home visits. Effectiveness of the program was assessed through interviews focused on health habits and effects of smoking on child health and development, and a Household Safety Inventory. The assessments were completed in participants’ homes when the infants were six and twelve months old.
The study found that at the twelve month interview, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p=0.071), with the intervention group smoking approximately two fewer cigarettes per day. The percentage of mothers who answered questions about the effects of smoking on child health correctly was also found to be significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at both the six and twelve month interviews. In addition, at the twelve month interview, the intervention group was found to have significantly safer homes than the control group (p=0.0001).
The study found that at the twelve month interview, the number of cigarettes smoked per day was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p=0.071), with the intervention group smoking approximately two fewer cigarettes per day. The percentage of mothers who answered questions about the effects of smoking on child health correctly was also found to be significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at both the six and twelve month interviews. In addition, at the twelve month interview, the intervention group was found to have significantly safer homes than the control group (p=0.0001).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Community-Based Family Resource and Support (CBFRS) program
Primary Contact
Anne McDonald Culp, Department of Child, Family and Community Sciences
University of Central Florida
Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences
College of Education
209 Education Building
Orlando, Florida 32816-1250
anne.culp@ucf.edu
University of Central Florida
Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences
College of Education
209 Education Building
Orlando, Florida 32816-1250
anne.culp@ucf.edu
Topics
Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health
Health / Family Planning
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Family Planning
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
Community-Based Family Resource and Support (CBFRS) program
Date of publication
2007
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Women
Additional Audience
First-time mothers