Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109116

Allison Barlow, MPH, MA¹, Elena Varipatis-Baker, MPH, MSW¹, Novalene Goklish¹, Pauline Fields¹, Brandii Cowboy¹, Kristen Speakman, MA¹, Golda Ginsburg, PhD², and John Walkup, MD². (1) Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins University, 621 North Washington Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (410) 955-6931, abarlow@jhsph.edu, (2) Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street, CMSC 312, Baltimore, MD 21287

Objective: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of an empirically supported home-based intervention delivered by American Indian (AI) paraprofessionals to AI teen mothers. Outcomes included ratings of mother's parenting knowledge and skills; family conflict and cohesion; mother's access to community services; and mother's risks for emotional or behavioral problems.

Methods: Expectant mothers (n= 54) ages 12-20 were randomized to the intervention or a breast feeding education comparison group. The intervention condition included 42 session over the nine-month study period. Outcome assessments occurred at baseline (28 weeks gestation), and 2 and 6 months postpartum.

Results: The pilot intervention had a significant impact on parenting knowledge. Trends were noted for increased family cohesion, self-esteem and decreased depressive symptoms. No impact was identified on parenting skills, family conflict, access to community services and substance use.

Conclusion: AI paraprofessionals were successfully trained to deliver a structured educational intervention to high-risk expectant AI teen mothers targeting factors that predict better parenting and improved maternal and child outcomes. A larger randomized controlled trial of an enhanced version of this home visiting program is underway to determine short- and long-term impact of the intervention on maternal and child health and behavior outcomes.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the maternal and child outcomes impacted by the pilot intervention.
• Discuss the reasons for the intervention's successes.
• Assess the reasons for the intervention's shortcomings.

Keywords: American Indians, Home Visiting

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.