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A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Home visiting and outcomes of preterm infants: a systematic review

Neera K Goyal1, Angelique Teeters, Robert T Ammerman

  • 1Division of Neonatology and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. neera.goyal@cchmc.org

Pediatrics
|August 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Home visiting programs show promise for improving parent-infant interaction in preterm infants. Further research can enhance the benefits of these interventions for at-risk populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Home visiting is a strategy to enhance child health and parenting.
  • US preterm births have increased by 20% over the past two decades.
  • Evidence on home visiting for preterm infants is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing evidence on home visiting programs for preterm infants.
  • To assess the impact of home visiting on preterm infant outcomes.
  • To identify areas for future research and program improvement.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search across multiple databases (Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Embase).
  • Inclusion criteria: cohort or controlled trials, home-based preventive services, preterm or low birth weight infant outcomes.
  • Data abstraction by two reviewers; random effects meta-analysis for developmental and parent interaction measures.

Main Results:

  • Seventeen studies (15 RCTs, 2 cohort) were reviewed.
  • Home visiting showed a positive effect on parent-infant interaction (HOME Inventory scores).
  • Limited evidence for other outcomes (morbidity, abuse/neglect, growth); methodological limitations were common.

Conclusions:

  • Home visiting interventions appear to improve parent-infant interaction for preterm infants.
  • Further research should focus on optimizing interventions for preterm infants within existing programs.
  • Enhancing impact and cost-effectiveness of home visiting for at-risk populations is recommended.
Abstract

Keywords:
developmenthome visitinglow birth weightparent-child relationshippreterm infants

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