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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Jun;48(6):591-601.
doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181a0ab86.

Randomized controlled trial of a paraprofessional-delivered in-home intervention for young reservation-based American Indian mothers

John T Walkup  1 , Allison Barlow  2 , Britta C Mullany  2 , William Pan  2 , Novalene Goklish  2 , Ranelda Hasting  2 , Brandii Cowboy  2 , Pauline Fields  2 , Elena Varipatis Baker  2 , Kristen Speakman  2 , Golda Ginsburg  2 , Raymond Reid  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized controlled trial of a paraprofessional-delivered in-home intervention for young reservation-based American Indian mothers

John T Walkup et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a paraprofessional-delivered, home-visiting intervention among young, reservation-based American Indian (AI) mothers on parenting knowledge, involvement, and maternal and infant outcomes.

Method: From 2002 to 2004, expectant AI women aged 12 to 22 years (n = 167) were randomized (1:1) to one of two paraprofessional-delivered, home-visiting interventions: the 25-visit "Family Spirit" intervention addressing prenatal and newborn care and maternal life skills (treatment) or a 23-visit breast-feeding/nutrition education intervention (active control). The interventions began during pregnancy and continued to 6 months postpartum. Mothers and children were evaluated at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Primary outcomes included changes in mothers' parenting knowledge and involvement. Secondary outcomes included infants' social and emotional behavior; the home environment; and mothers' stress, social support, depression, and substance use.

Results: Participants were mostly teenaged, first-time, unmarried mothers living in reservation communities. At 6 and 12 months postpartum, treatment mothers compared with control mothers had greater parenting knowledge gains, 13.5 (p < .0001) and 13.9 (p < .0001) points higher, respectively (100-point scale). At 12 months postpartum, treatment mothers reported their infants to have significantly lower scores on the externalizing domain (beta = -.17, p < .05) and less separation distress in the internalizing domain (beta = -.17, p < .05). No between-group differences were found for maternal involvement, home environment, or mothers' stress, social support, depression, or substance use.

Conclusions: This study supports the efficacy of the paraprofessional-delivered Family Spirit home-visiting intervention for young AI mothers on maternal knowledge and infant behavior outcomes. A longer, larger study is needed to replicate results and evaluate the durability of child behavior outcomes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00356551.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow of participants through the study.
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References

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    1. US DHHS. Trends in Indian health, 2000–2001. 2004. Rockville, Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, US Government Printing Office.

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