Homelessness and its relation to the mental health and behavior of low-income school-age children.

This study examined the relationship between housing status and depression, anxiety, and problem behaviors among children age 6 and older who were members of low-income, single-parent, female-headed families. Participants were 80 homeless and 148 never homeless children living in Worcester, Massachusetts. Children in both groups had recently been exposed to various severe stressors. Mother-reported problem behaviors were above normative levels for both homeless and poor housed youths but self-reported depression and anxiety were not. Controlling for other explanatory variables, housing status was associated with internalizing problem behaviors but not with externalizing behaviors. Among homeless youths, internalizing behavior problems showed a positive but curvilinear relationship with number of weeks having lived in a shelter. Housing status was not associated with self-reported depression and anxiety. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for programmatic interventions and in light of recent welfare reform.

The developmental status and adaptive behavior of homeless and low-income housed infants and toddlers.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes the development status of 127 homeless and 91 low-income housed infants and toddlers. METHODS: The Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Vineland Screener were used to gather data. RESULTS: There were no differences between homeless and low-income housed children. However, younger children in both groups performed better than the older children on most summary scores. CONCLUSIONS: Homeless and low-income housed children did not differ in their cognitive and motor skills. However, older children scored lower than younger children on most measures of development status, suggesting that the cumulative effects of poverty may increase with time.

Patterns of welfare use among poor and homeless women.

The relationship between demographic, health, and social factors and patterns of welfare use was assessed in a cross-sectional survey of homeless and poor housed women on welfare. Factors associated with long-term welfare and those associated with episodic (as opposed to continuous) welfare use are identified. Implications for welfare reform are discussed in light of findings that highlight the complexity of poor women's lives and the variations in their use of welfare.

Work and welfare: job histories, barriers to employment, and predictors of work among low-income single mothers.

The work histories of 436 sheltered homeless and low-income women were analyzed to develop a predictive model of factors that facilitate employment possibilities for some low-income women and deter others from obtaining work. Findings suggest the need for programs of education, early intervention, and job training. However, the availability of adequate jobs and affordable child care are prerequisites for poor, single mothers to become self-supporting.

Randomised controlled trial of interferon alfa (lymphoblastoid interferon) in chronic non-A non-B hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of low dose interferon alfa (human lymphoblastoid interferon) on aminotransferase activities in chronic non-A non-B hepatitis. DESIGN: Prospective randomised controlled parallel group study of active treatment versus no treatment carried out over 16 weeks and preceded by baseline measurements at weeks 8 and 4 and time zero. SETTING: HEPATOLOGY outpatient clinics in secondary referral centres. PATIENTS: Fourteen adults with histologically proved chronic hepatitis and persistently raised aminotransferase activities for six months or more. INTERVENTIONS: Seven patients randomised to receive interferon alfa 5 megaunits (MU) daily for one week, reducing to 5 MU thrice weekly for seven weeks, then 3 MU thrice weekly for eight weeks. Controls not treated. END POINT: Control of hepatic enzyme activity in chronic non-A non-B hepatitis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum aspartate aminotransferase activity remained raised in controls (mean increase in study period 23.4 U/l) but fell rapidly to normal in the treated group (mean decrease 106.4 U/l). In four cases values were normal by eight weeks and in five cases by 16 weeks. Only minor side effects were recorded (fever, myalgia), which became less common as treatment progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous low dose interferon alfa reduces aspartate aminotransferase activity to normal in most patients with chronic non-A non-B hepatitis and may prevent progression to cirrhosis.