Manuscript Details

Olds, D. L., Kitzman, H., Knudtson, M. D., Anson, E., Smith, J. A., & Cole, R. (2014). Effect of home visiting by nurses on maternal and child mortality: Results of a 2-decade follow-up of a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(9), 800-806.

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?
Randomized controlled trial Low

Not established on race or SES; outcome measures not assessable at baseline

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Child Health
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
20 year child mortality rate - all causes (Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. developmental screening comparison) 20 years Moderate
0.68 Not statistically significant, p = 0.11 708 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
20 year child mortality rate - preventable cause (Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. developmental screening comparison) 20 years Moderate
Statistically significant, p = 0.04 708 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. developmental screening comparison (Memphis)
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
21 year maternal mortality rate - all causes (Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison) 21 years Moderate
0.69 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 1138 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison (Memphis)
21 year maternal mortality rate - all causes (Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison) 21 years Moderate
0.69 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 1138 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison (Memphis)
21 year maternal mortality rate - all causes (Nurse home visits during pregnancy plus 2 postpartum visits vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison) 21 years Moderate
1.41 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 910 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy plus 2 postpartum visits vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison (Memphis)
21 year maternal mortality rate - external cause (Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison) 21 years Moderate
1.22 Statistically significant, p = 0.02 1138 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison (Memphis)
21 year maternal mortality rate - external cause (Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison) 21 years Moderate
1.22 Statistically significant, p = 0.02 1138 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy and infancy vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison (Memphis)
21 year maternal mortality rate - external cause (Nurse home visits during pregnancy plus 2 postpartum visits vs. transport to prenatal appointment comparison) 21 years Moderate
Not statistically significant, p = 0.05 910 mother/child dyads Nurse home visits during pregnancy plus 2 postpartum visits vs. transport to prenatal appointment 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
92%
Unknown
8%

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Tennessee
Study Participants

The sample included pregnant, first-time mothers who were less than 29 weeks pregnant. Women were recruited through an obstetrical clinic if they had no previous live births, no chronic illnesses linked to fetal growth retardation or preterm delivery, and at least two of the following sociodemographic characteristics: unmarried, less than 12 years of education, and unemployed. From June 1990 through August 1991, 1,138 women were randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups (two treatment and two control conditions) after providing informed consent. Of the 1,138 women randomized into the four conditions, all 1,138 were included in the analytic sample to assess maternal mortality. Approximately 89 to 96 percent of women in this sample were African American and 1 to 3 percent were married. The average age was 18 years and the average education level was 10 years. On average, women lived in census tracts with 35 to 39 percent of the population living below the poverty level. This study measures maternal and child mortality outcomes 21 years after randomization.

Setting

Memphis, Tennessee

Intervention condition
Comparison Conditions

The study included two comparison groups. The first comparison group received taxicab transportation for prenatal care appointments. The second comparison group received the transportation plus developmental screening and referral to services when the children were 6, 12, and 24 months old.

Author Affiliation

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

Funding Sources

National Institute of Drug Abuse (grant 1R01DA021624)