323154
Evaluation of a Family-Centered Medical Home Intervention for Teen Parent Families
Teen childbearing is associated with adverse outcomes for both mothers and children, including pregnancy and birth complications, and school failure and depression among mothers. Support for teen mothers has become a public health goal, but no specific intervention has emerged as a standard model of care. We examined the effect of a primary care-based intervention that integrates mental health and social work services for teen parent families.
Methods
We compared a cohort of teen-parent families enrolled in the intervention with a cohort of demographically similar families enrolled in standard pediatric care. Data collection involved a validated, longitudinal survey instrument conducted in-person with 150 African American teen mothers at baseline (child age 2 months) and follow-up (child age 12 months).
Results
Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that enrollment in the intervention was associated with improved school attendance/completion (78% versus 60%; p=0.03) and condom use (73% versus 56%; p=0.05). From baseline to follow-up there was no significant change in the percentage of mothers in the intervention group who met the clinical cut-off for depression (34% to 36%); however, the percentage in the comparison group significantly increased over time (22% to 41%; p=0.03). Additional analyses will evaluate dosage effects, and examine child behavior outcomes.
Conclusions
Enrollment in a family-centered medical home with integrated mental health services can mitigate adverse mental health outcomes, enhance educational attainment, and increase contraceptive use for teen mothers. Increasing infrastructure for integrating mental health and social services into primary care is needed to address important outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practiceImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the effects, for teen mothers and their young children, of participation in a family-centered medical home intervention compared to standard pediatric primary care.
Keyword(s): Adolescents, Primary Care
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator for this federally funded study evaluating the effectiveness of a family-centered intervention to support teen parents and their children. I have led several other intervention studies with this population. Among my scientific interests has been the development and evaluation of interventions for parenting teens, and the integration of mental health services into primary care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.