A parenting intervention delivered at routine primary health visits improved child cognitive development and parenting knowledge

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Several agencies have recommended integrating early child development interventions with health services. We developed and evaluated a parent training programme integrated into primary health visits. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cluster randomised trial conducted in Jamaica, Antigua and St Lucia with health centre as the unit of randomization. Fifteen centres were randomised to control (n=250 mother-child pairs) and 14 to intervention (n=251). Participants were recruited at the 6-8 week child health visit. Intervention was provided at routine health visits from age 3-18 months and comprised short films of child development messages followed by discussion and demonstration led by community health workers, and mothers’ practice of activities. Nurses distributed message cards and a few play materials. Primary outcomes were child development, measured 2 weeks after the 18 month visit, with the Griffiths Mental Development Scales and the Communicative Development Inventory (CDI). RESULTS: 85% of enrolled children were tested (control = 210; intervention=216). Loss did not differ by group. Multilevel analyses showed significant intervention benefits for cognitive development, (3.09 points; 95% CI 1.31, 4.87), effect size 0.30 SD. There were no benefits to language or hand and eye subscales, or CDI vocabulary score. Of six secondary outcomes there was a significant benefit to parenting knowledge, treatment effect 1.59 (95% CI 1.01 to 2.17), effect size 0.40. CONCLUSION: An innovative parenting intervention, requiring no additional clinic staff or mothers’ time, can be integrated into health services, with benefits to cognitive development and parent knowledge.