Effects of parent training on teenage mother and their infants

Abstract

Parent training was provided for 80 low-income, black teenage mothers during their infants' first six months. Half of the mothers were visited biweekly in their homes to be instructed in caregiving and in sensorimotor and interaction exercises, and half were trained as CETA (Comprehensive Employment Training ACT)-paid, teacher's aides in a medical school infant nursery that provided care for their infants and infants of medical faculty. Growth and development during the first two years were superior for the infants whose mothers received training, particularly those who received paid parent training as teacher's aides in the infant nursery. Repeat pregnancy rates were lower and return to work/school rates were higher for the infant nursery mothers, most of whom subsequently pursued nurse's aide training.