Manuscript Details

Williams, C. M., Asaolu, I., English, B., Jewell, T., Smith, K., & Robl, J. (2014). Maternal health improvement by HANDS home visiting program (Unpublished manuscript). University of Kentucky Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lexington, KY.

Additional Sources:
  • Williams, C., Cprek, S., Asaolu, I., English, B., Jewell, T., Smith, K., & Robl, J. (2017). Kentucky Health Access Nurturing Development Services home visiting program improves maternal and child health. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 21(5), 1166–1174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2215-6

Moderate 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?
Non-experimental comparison group design Not applicable

Established on race; established on SES. Outcome measures were not assessable at baseline.

None

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

The findings in the unpublished manuscript are also in the peer reviewed journal article cited as an additional source.

Child Health
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Breastfeeding (proportion) Birth Moderate
0.06 Not statistically significant, p = 0.15 4506 mothers Kentucky 2011-2012 matched
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Family Economic Self-Sufficiency
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Maternal receipt of WIC (proportion) Birth Moderate
0.27 Statistically significant, p = 0.00 4506 mothers Kentucky 2011-2012 matched
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Maternal Health
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Adequate prenatal care (proportion) Birth Moderate
0.08 Statistically significant, p = 0.05 4506 mothers Kentucky 2011-2012 matched
Maternal complications during delivery (proportion) Birth Moderate
0.31 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 4506 mothers Kentucky 2011-2012 matched
Maternal weight gain during pregnancy (pounds) Birth Moderate
Statistically significant, p = 0.05 4506 mothers Kentucky 2011-2012 matched
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (proportion) Birth Moderate
0.41 Statistically significant, p = 0.00 4506 mothers Kentucky 2011-2012 matched
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
9%
Hispanic or Latino
2%
White
88%
Some other race
1%

Maternal Education

Less than a high school diploma
33%
Unknown
67%

Other Characteristics

Enrollment in means-tested programs
92%

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Kentucky
Study Participants

This study examined 4,506 mother–infant pairs. Among these, 2,253 were HANDS participants and 2,253 were in a comparison group. All study participants were first-time parents, had at least two risk factors, and were either pregnant or had a child who was age 3 months or younger. Risk factors included unemployment, isolation, history of substance abuse, unstable housing, limited parental education, domestic violence, poor prenatal care, and maternal depression. Study participants were 88 percent white, non-Hispanic; 9 percent black, non-Hispanic; 2 percent Hispanic; and 1 percent some other race. Most (78 percent) study participants had Medicaid coverage at the time of referral to HANDS, and 33 percent of the mothers had less than 12 years of education.

Setting

Kentucky (statewide)

Comparison Conditions

Mother–infant pairs in the comparison groups were selected from the group of mothers referred to HANDS. Mothers in the comparison condition completed a screening tool and were found to be eligible for home visits, but chose not to participate and did not receive any home visits.

Author Affiliation

Two of the authors are affiliated with the University of Kentucky Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and four with the Kentucky Department for Public Health. The Kentucky Department for Public Health developed the HANDS model.

Funding Sources

Kentucky Department for Public Health, funded through MIECHV grants D89MC23538 and X02MC27402.