Evaluación de la efectividad de programas de visitas domiciliarias para madres adolescentes y sus hijos/as / Effectiveness of a home visit program for adolescent mothers and their children

ABSTRACT

Background: Home visiting is effective for the promotion and prevention of mother-child health in other countries, especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant teenagers. Aim: To evalúate the association between receiving a home visiting program duringpregnancy and child development during thefirstyear oflife, maternal mental health, perception of social support and school attendance. Material and Methods: Cross sectional assessment of 132 teenage mother-sibling pairs. Ofthese, 87 received home visits and 45 were randomly assigned to a control group. The assessed variables were maternal mental health, perception of social support, Ufe satisfaction, incorporation of mothers to school after delivery, child development and frequency of child abuse and neglect. Results: Mothers that received home visits had a better mental health and went back to school in a higherproportion. No significant differences between groups were observed on perception of social support or child development. Conclusions: These results suggest the effectiveness of domiciliary visits performed by non-professionals, to improve mental health and social integration of teenage mothers.