Prenatal and Infancy Home Visiting by Nurses

A registered nurse visited participants at home during pregnancy and their child’s infancy. The nurse promoted healthy prenatal behaviors, parent–child interactions, and practices to encourage the child’s emotional and cognitive development. The nurse helped participants address barriers that prevented them from completing education and finding work. Mothers also received free transportation to and from scheduled prenatal care appointments. After the child was born, the child received developmental screening and referral services when they were 6, 12, and 24 months old. The program provided services during the mother’s pregnancy and until the child was 2 years old. On average, the nurse visited the mother seven times.

The primary population served included first-time mothers who had sociodemographic risk factors, including being unmarried, having fewer than 12 years of education, or being unemployed. The program took place in Memphis, TN.