AN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

 

OVERVIEW

This intervention for low birth weight, preterm infants begins in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit with the nurse and continues in the home with several home visits from the nurse. Significant program impacts were found on cognitive development at three and four years of age. At six months of age, mothers in the treatment group expressed more self-confidence and a more positive perception of the infant’s temperament.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target Population: low birth weight, preterm infants

A neonatal intensive care nurse conducted 11 one-hour sessions with the mothers. Seven occurred during the week prior to the infant’s discharge from the hospital and four took place in-home at three, 14, 30, and 90 days after discharge. The nurse encouraged the mother to feel comfortable holding her infant and demonstrated how to property hold and handle him or her. The nurse explained different signs to look for to understand the baby’s needs. The focus and pace of the interactions were varied by the nurse to address the particular needs of each mother.

 

EVALUATIONS OF PROGRAM

 

Rauh, V. A., Achenbach, T. M., Nurcombe, B., Howell, C. T., & Teti, D. M. (1988). Minimizing adverse effects of low birthweight: Four-year results of an early intervention program. Child Development, 59(3), 544-553.

 

Evaluated Population: Infants (N=78) were fewer than 2,250 grams at birth and fewer than 37 weeks gestation. On average, the infants had eight or nine ante-, peri-, and post-natal complications, and were hospitalized slightly over a month. The average mother was in her mid to late 20’s, and had finished high school. More than half of the children were firstborn, about one third were born through Caesarean delivery, and about one in five were small for their gestational age.

 

Approach: Recruited mother-child pairs (N=78) were randomly assigned to the experimental (N=38) or control (N=40) group. Infant assessments took place at six, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Infants were measured on cognitive development. Mothers reported on their self confidence, anxiety, perceptions of infant temperament, and satisfaction with her mothering role, all at infant age six months. A nurse rated the mothers on their response to the intervention.

 

Results: No impacts were found for cognitive scores at 6, 12, and 24 months; however the treatment group had significantly higher cognitive scores at 36 and 48 months, compared with the control group. Control mothers were more likely than treatment mothers to perceive their infants as more difficult. Treatment mothers had higher self confidence than control mothers. No significant impacts were found for role satisfaction or maternal anxiety.

 

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

References:

Rauh, V. A., Achenbach, T. M., Nurcombe, B., Howell, C. T., & Teti, D. M. (1988). Minimizing adverse effects of low birthweight: Four-year results of an early intervention program. Child Development, 59(3), 544-553.

 

Program Manual: As of 1988, a detailed manual was available from the authors upon request. The lead author, Dr. Virginia Rauh can be contacted at Columbia University as of September 2010 at the following address:

 

60 Haven Avenue, B-2
Room 213
New York, New York 10032

 

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

 

Evaluated participant ages: Early Childhood (0-5)

 

Program components: Clinic/provider-based, Home visiting, Parent or family component

 

Measured outcomes: Education and Cognitive Development

 

KEYWORDS: Infants (0-12 months), Toddlers (12-36 months), Children (3-11), Males and Females (co-ed), Clinic/Provider-based, Home-based, Parent Training/Education, Home Visitation, Parent/Family Component, Manual is Available, Other Education.

 

Last Updated on September 14, 2010

 

 

		© Child Trends 2003