A randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a Nurse Home Visiting Program for Pregnant Adolescents

Maternal Mental Health and Offspring Brain Development: An Umbrella Review of Prenatal Interventions

The idea that risk for psychiatric disorders may be transmitted intergenerationally via prenatal programming places interest in the prenatal period as a critical moment during which intervention efforts may have a strong impact, yet studies testing whether prenatal interventions also protect offspring are limited. The present umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) of randomized controlled trials aimed to synthesize the available evidence and highlight promising avenues for intervention. Overall, the literature provides mixed and limited evidence in support of prenatal interventions. Thirty SRMAs were included. Of the 23 SRMAs that reported on prenatal depression interventions, 16 found a significant effect (average standard mean difference = -0.45, SD = 0.25). Similarly, 13 of the 20 SRMAs that reported on anxiety outcomes documented significant reductions (average standard mean difference = -0.76, SD = 0.95 or -0.53/0.53 excluding one outlier). Only 4 SRMAs reported child outcomes, and only 2 (of 10) analyses showed significant effects of prenatal interventions (massage and telephone support on neonatal resuscitation [relative risk = 0.43] and neonatal intensive care unit admissions [relative risk = 0.91]). Notably missing, perhaps due to our strict inclusion criteria (inclusion of randomized controlled trials only), were interventions focusing on key facets of prenatal health (e.g., whole diet, sleep). Structural interventions (housing, access to health care, economic security) were not included, although initial success has been documented in non-SRMAs. Most notably, none of the SRMAs focused on offspring mental health or neurodevelopmental outcomes. Given the possibility that interventions deployed in this period will positively impact the next generation, randomized trials that focus on offspring outcomes are urgently needed.

Effect of early childhood development interventions delivered by healthcare providers to improve cognitive outcomes in children at 0-36 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of early childhood development interventions delivered by healthcare providers (HCP-ECD) on child cognition and maternal mental health.

DESIGN

Systematic review, meta-analysis.

SETTING

Healthcare setting or home.

PARTICIPANTS

Infants under 1 month of age.

INTERVENTIONS

HCP-ECD interventions that supported responsive caregiving, early learning and motor stimulation. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Health Technology Assessment Database, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched until 15 November 2021. Studies reporting prespecified outcomes were pooled using standard meta-analytical methods.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cognitive development in children at 0-36 months.

RESULTS

Forty-two randomised controlled trials with 15 557 infants were included in the narrative synthesis. Twenty-seven trials were included in the meta-analyses. Pooled data from 13 trials suggest that HCP-ECD interventions may improve cognitive outcomes in children between 0 and 36 months (Bayley Scales of Infant Development version IIII (BSID-III) mean difference (MD) 2.65; 95% CI 0.61 to 4.70; 2482 participants; low certainty of evidence). Pooled data from nine trials suggest improvements in motor development (BSID-III MD 4.01; 95% CI 1.54 to 6.48; 1437 participants; low certainty of evidence). There was no evidence of improvement in maternal mental health (standardised MD -0.13; 95% CI -0.28 to 0.03; 2806 participants; 11 trials; low certainty of evidence).

CONCLUSIONS

We report promising evidence, particularly for cognitive and motor outcomes, of the effect of HCP-ECD interventions. However, effect sizes were small, and the certainty of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. Additional high-quality research is required.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019122021.

Mães adolescentes, autocuidado e cuidado infantil: validação de conteúdo de um calendário histórico de eventos

RESUMO Objetivo: Validar o conteúdo da ferramenta Event History Calendar Mãe Adolescente: fortalecendo o autocuidado e o cuidado da criança. Método: Estudo metodológico com a técnica Delphi, realizado em duas rodadas, envolvendo 37 especialistas de enfermagem. Na coleta de dados, de dezembro/2019 a agosto/2020, foi utilizado um questionário semiestruturado composto por 47 itens relacionados às duas dimensões da ferramenta: Autocuidado e Cuidado da criança. O Índice de Validade de Conteúdo ≥ 0,80 foi utilizado para avaliar a concordância entre os especialistas. Elementos qualitativos foram analisados quanto à clareza e abrangência do conteúdo. Resultados: Na primeira rodada, 46 itens apresentaram Índice de Validade de Conteúdo ≥ 0,80. Os elementos qualitativos apontaram necessidade de maior clareza para o público adolescente. Após as alterações, a ferramenta apresentou 30 itens. Na segunda rodada, os 30 itens avaliados alcançaram Índice de Validade de Conteúdo ≥ 0,80. As considerações qualitativas foram traduzidas em modificações no conteúdo e sequência na versão final da ferramenta. Conclusão: A ferramenta validada obteve avaliação adequada dos itens de cada dimensão, relacionados ao autocuidado da mãe adolescente e cuidado da criança, com alto grau de compreensibilidade.

Adolescent mothers, self-care and childcare: content validation of an Event History Calendar

OBJECTIVE

To validate the content of the tool Event History Calendar Adolescent Mother: strengthening self-care and child care.

METHOD

Methodological study using the Delphi technique, conducted in two rounds, involving 37 nursing specialists. In data collection, from December/2019 to August/2020, a semi-structured questionnaire composed of 47 items related to the two dimensions of the tool: Self-care and Child Care was used. The Content Validity Index ≥ 0.80 was used to assess agreement among the experts. Qualitative elements were analyzed for clarity and comprehensiveness of content.

RESULTS

In the first round, 46 items showed Content Validity Index ≥ 0.80. The qualitative elements pointed out more clarity for the adolescent audience. After the changes, the tool presented 30 items. In the second round, the 30 items evaluated achieved Content Validity Index ≥ 0.80. The qualitative considerations were translated into modifications in the content and sequence in the final version of the tool.

CONCLUSION

The validated tool obtained adequate evaluation of the items of each dimension, related to adolescent mother self-care and child care, with a high degree of comprehensibility.

Social communication therapy for children at risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties: Protocol for a clinical trial

Exposure to adverse environments are risk factors for neurodevelopmental problems in childhood. Children exposed to such environments may benefit from interventions that target social communication abilities, since these are protective factors for healthy neurodevelopment. This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) in improving social communication development in young children at risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties living in poverty in Brazil. Participants will be 160 children aged 2-4 years with lower-than-average social communication abilities and their primary caregivers. Child-caregiver dyads will be recruited from public childhood education centers in impoverished urban regions of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Lower-than-average social communication abilities will be defined by standard scores (≤84) on the socialization and/or communication domains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Child-caregiver dyads will be randomized to receive 12 sessions of the PACT intervention (n = 80) or 5 months of community support as usual plus psychoeducation (n = 80). The primary outcome (parent-child interaction) and secondary outcomes (parent-reported social communication abilities and neurophysiological activity during a live social interaction) will be measured pre- and postintervention. This study may lead to new interventions for vulnerable young children in Brazil and better understanding of the neural mechanisms of PACT.