American Indian or Alaska Native
1%
Source
Peer reviewed?
Yes
Mersky, J. P., Janczewski, C. E., Plummer Lee, C., Gilbert, R. M., McAtee, C., & Yasin, T. (2021). Home visiting effects on breastfeeding and bedsharing in a low-income sample. [Study 2]. Health Education & Behavior, 48(4), 488–495. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120964197.
Model(s) Reviewed
Funding Sources
Not reported
Study Design
| Design | Attrition | Baseline equivalence | Confounding factors | Valid, reliable measures? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-experimental comparison group design | Not applicable | Established on race/ethnicity and SES; outcome(s) not feasible to assess at baseline |
No |
Yes |
Notes
The manuscript describes two studies: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a non-experimental comparison group design (NED). This review addresses the findings of the NED. The review of the RCT is addressed under Mersky et al. (2021; Study 1). Information on the measures and sample sizes—including information that was needed to demonstrate equivalence of the intervention and comparison groups and to establish measure reliability—is based on correspondence with the author.
Study Participants
Study participants were pregnant women with low incomes who were referred to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, health department for home visiting services between April 2014 and March 2017. They were eligible if they spoke English or Spanish and did not previously receive home visiting services. A total of 154 mother-child dyads had complete data and were included in the study: 69 in the Healthy Families America home visiting group, and 85 in the comparison group. Outcomes were measured at 14–60 days postpartum, six months postpartum, and 12 months postpartum. Forty percent of mothers were Hispanic, 47 percent were African American or Black, and 12 percent were another race. Twenty-three percent had completed postsecondary education at the time of study enrollment.
Setting
The study took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and focused on women who were seeking services at a large, urban health department.
Home Visiting Services
As described in this manuscript, Healthy Families America (HFA) consists of regular, hourlong home visits starting during pregnancy and lasting until a child’s third birthday. HFA aims to start its support of families prenatally, with developmental and functional assessments of children and caregivers; parenting guidance; and referrals to community services. Each participant is assigned a home visitor who is a paraprofessional family support worker. The home visitor receives auxiliary support from a public health nurse. Families are offered at least one visit per week until infants are six months old, with visits becoming less frequent thereafter. On average for the sample in this evaluation, mothers enrolled during the 24th week of pregnancy, and their mean length of receiving services was 26.8 weeks.
Comparison Conditions
Participants in the comparison group received a referral to home visiting but elected not to enroll in home visiting through the health department.
Were any subgroups examined?
No
Subgroups examined
There were no subgroups reported in this manuscript.
Study Participants
Study participants were pregnant women with low incomes who were referred to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, health department for home visiting services between April 2014 and March 2017. They were eligible if they spoke English or Spanish and did not previously receive home visiting services. A total of 154 mother-child dyads had complete data and were included in the study: 69 in the Healthy Families America home visiting group, and 85 in the comparison group. Outcomes were measured at 14–60 days postpartum, six months postpartum, and 12 months postpartum. Forty percent of mothers were Hispanic, 47 percent were African American or Black, and 12 percent were another race. Twenty-three percent had completed postsecondary education at the time of study enrollment.
Setting
The study took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and focused on women who were seeking services at a large, urban health department.
Home Visiting Services
As described in this manuscript, Healthy Families America (HFA) consists of regular, hourlong home visits starting during pregnancy and lasting until a child’s third birthday. HFA aims to start its support of families prenatally, with developmental and functional assessments of children and caregivers; parenting guidance; and referrals to community services. Each participant is assigned a home visitor who is a paraprofessional family support worker. The home visitor receives auxiliary support from a public health nurse. Families are offered at least one visit per week until infants are six months old, with visits becoming less frequent thereafter. On average for the sample in this evaluation, mothers enrolled during the 24th week of pregnancy, and their mean length of receiving services was 26.8 weeks.
Comparison Conditions
Participants in the comparison group received a referral to home visiting but elected not to enroll in home visiting through the health department.
Were any subgroups examined?
No
Subgroups examined
There were no subgroups reported in this manuscript.
Findings that rate moderate or high in this manuscript
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Direction of Effect | Effect size (absolute value) | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ever breastfed |
12 months postpartum |
Moderate | 0.60 | Statistically significant, p= 0.04 |
154 mother/child dyads | HFA vs. Quasi-experimental comparison group, Milwaukee, 2014-2017, full sample |
||
Breastfeeding duration (weeks) |
12 months postpartum |
Moderate | 1.30 | Not statistically significant, p= 0.11 |
154 mother/child dyads | HFA vs. Quasi-experimental comparison group, Milwaukee, 2014-2017, full sample |
| Outcome measure | Timing of follow-up | Rating | Direction of Effect | Effect size (absolute value) | Stastical significance | Sample size | Sample description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Any bedsharing by 12 months |
12 months postpartum |
Moderate | 0.42 | Statistically significant, p= 0.03 |
154 mother/child dyads | HFA vs. Quasi-experimental comparison group, Milwaukee, 2014-2017, full sample |
This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:
Race/Ethnicity
Maternal Education
Other Characteristics
This study included participants from the following locations:
- Wisconsin