Manuscript Details

Kitzman, H. J., Olds, D. L., Cole, R. E., Hanks, C. A., Anson, E. A., Arcoleo, K. J., Luckey, D. W., Knudtson, M. D., Henderson, C. R., & Holmberg, J. R. (2010). Enduring effects of prenatal and infancy home visiting by nurses on children: Follow-up of a randomized trial among children at age 12 years. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 164(5), 412–418.

High rating
Study reviewed under: Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Study design characteristics contributing to rating
Design Attrition Baseline equivalence Confounding factors? Valid, reliable measures?
Randomized controlled trial Low

Established for race/ethnicity. Significant differences in SES, but controlled in analyses.

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Notes from the review of this manuscript

In 2020, HomVEE updated this review in two ways. First, HomVEE moved six findings on externalizing disorders, internalizing disorders, and total problems from the Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime domain to the Child Development and School Readiness domain. Second, HomVEE moved the findings on whether the child used cigarettes, alcohol, or marijuana in the past 30 days from the Child Health domain to the Child Development and School Readiness domain. These changes are because ACF determined that all measures of child behavioral health, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors and children's risky behaviors, belong in HomVEE's Child Development and School Readiness domain.

Child Development and School Readiness
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
GPA (reading and math) (grades 1–6) 12-year follow-up High
2.07 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
GPA (reading and math) (grades 4–6) 12-year follow-up High
1.70 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
PIAT scores (reading and math) at 12 years 12-year follow-up High
2.25 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 568 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Conduct grades (grades 1–-6) 12-year follow-up High
1.79 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Conduct grades (grades 4–6) 12-year follow-up High
1.87 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Ever placed in special education (grades 1–6) 12-year follow-up High
0.28 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Ever retained 12-year follow-up High
0.14 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Externalizing disorders 12 years High
0.08 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Group achievement test scores (reading and math) (grades 1–6), percentile 12-year follow-up High
2.12 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 578 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Group achievement test scores (reading and math) (grades 4–6), percentile 12-year follow-up High
0.89 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 635 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Incidence of days of substance use in the past 30 days 12 years High
Statistically significant, p < .05 578 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Internalizing disorders 12 years High
0.28 Statistically significant, p < .05 578 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Leiter-R Sustained Attention test scaled score 12-year follow-up High
0.42 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 578 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and development screening comparison (Memphis)
Number of substances used in the past 30 days 12 years High
Statistically significant, p < .05 578 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Total problems 12 years High
0.14 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Used cigarettes, alcohol, or marijuana in the past 30 days 12 years High
0.69 Statistically significant, p < .05 578 children Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Subgroups
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
GPA (reading and math) (grades 1-6) 12-year follow-up High
3.32 Statistically significant, p < .05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
GPA (reading and math) (grades 4-6) 12-year follow-up High
2.83 Statistically significant, p < .05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
PIAT scores (reading and math) at 12 years 12-year follow-up High
3.91 Statistically significant, p < .05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Conduct grades (grades 1-6) 12-year follow-up High
1.61 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Conduct grades (grades 4-6) 12-year follow-up High
0.93 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Ever placed in special education (grades 1-6) 12-year follow-up High
0.02 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Ever retained 12-year follow-up High
0.16 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Externalizing disorders 12 years High
0.07 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Group achievement test scores (reading and math) (grades 1-6), percentile1 12-year follow-up High
3.39 Statistically significant, p < .05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Group achievement test scores (reading and math) (grades 4-6), percentile1 12-year follow-up High
1.87 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Internalizing disorders 12 years High
0.13 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Leiter-R Sustained Attention test scaled score 12-year follow-up High
0.39 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Total problems 12 years High
0.09 Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 326 mothers Nurse home visitors and comparison (Memphis); Subgroup: Mother has psychological vulnerability
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Ever arrested 12 years High
0.00 Not statistically significant Nurse visited during pregnancy + infancy and developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant

This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:

Race/Ethnicity

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if Hispanic ethnicity was reported separately or respondents could select two or more race or ethnicity categories.

Black or African American
94%
Unknown
7%

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Tennessee
Study Participants

From June 1, 1990 through August 31, 1991, the study enrolled primarily African American women at fewer than 29 weeks of gestation, with no previous live births, and with at least 2 of the following sociodemographic risk characteristics:unmarried, fewer than 12 years of education, and unemployed. Of the 1,290 eligible women, 1,139 consented and were randomly assigned. A subset of 743 women were involved in the postnatal aspect of the trial. Of the women enrolled, 92.1% were African American, 98.1% were unmarried, 64.1% were 18 years or younger at registration, and 85.1% came from households with annual incomes below the U.S. federal poverty guidelines. This study focused on the 12-year follow up; 594 women completed a maternal interview and 578 children completed an interview.

Setting

Memphis, TN

Intervention condition
Comparison Conditions

Women in the comparison group were provided developmental screening and referrals for the child at 6, 12, and 24 months of age, and free transportation for scheduled prenatal care.

Subgroups examined

• Mother has psychological vulnerability (yes or no)

Author Affiliation

David L. Olds, a study author, is a developer of this model.

Funding Sources

This project was supported by National Institutes of Health research grant 1R01MH68790-01 funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant 2004-52854-CO-JS0. The earlier phases of this study were supported by several federal agencies: the National Institute of Mental Health (grant R01-MH61428- 01), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (grant R01-HD-043492), the National Institute of Nursing Research (grant NR01-01691-05), the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health (grant MCJ 360579), the Administration for Children and Families (grants 90PJ0003 and 90PD0215/01), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (Department of Health and Human Services), and the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect through a transfer of funds to the National Institute of Nursing Research (grant R01NR01691). The earlier phases of this research also were supported by 5 private foundations: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (grants 017934 and 11084), the Carnegie Corporation of New York (grant B 5492), the Pew Charitable Trusts (grants 88-0211-000 and 93-02363-000), the William T. Grant Foundation (grants 88-1246-88 and 91-1246-88), and the Hearst Foundation, as well as a Senior Research Scientist Award from the National Institutes of Health (1-K05-MH01382-01) (Dr Olds).