Outcome Evaluation of Early Start: The efficacy of home visitation as a mechanism to address issues relating to child rearing, parenting and family functioning amongst families with young children who are at risk for experiencing high levels of stress and difficulties in family functioning.

Christchurch Health and Development Study0 sites440 target enrollmentSeptember 9, 2005

Overview

No summary available.

Registry

who.int

Start Date

September 9, 2005

End Date

TBD

Last Updated

6 years ago

Study Type

Interventional

Sex

All

Sponsor

Christchurch Health and Development Study

•Participant families were recruited using a population based screening procedure. In this procedure, Plunket community nurses in the Christchurch (New Zealand) urban region screened all new clients using an 11 point screening measure based on the measure used in the Hawaii Healthy Start Program. This screening measure covered a series of areas of parent and family functioning including: age of parents; social support; planning of pregnancy; parental substance use; family financial situation; and family violence. Plunket Nurses were asked to refer any family where two or more risk factors were present. In addition, Plunket Nurses were asked to refer any family in which there were serious concerns about the family's capacity to care for the child. Plunket nurses are community nurses who visit families within 3 months of the birth of a child to provide health and parenting support. The service is free, and within Christchurch, Plunket nurses see approximately 95% of families giving birth to a child. All referrals were on the basis of signed parental consent.