Abstract
Purpose: Sustained and high quality maternal involvement in home visiting programs may be an important factor in reducing child abuse potential in at-risk families. This study aimed to examine this neglected field by investigating factors predicting program engagement and relationship to maternal outcomes in an intensive, nurse-led home visiting program in South East Queensland. Using a theoretical basis of Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory and McCurdy and Daro's theory of parental engagement in home visiting programs, the study aimed to examine engagement in the Australian context.
Methods: Data from a longitudinal randomised controlled trial investigating standard nurse home visiting (Family Care) and an augmented program (PUP B) were analysed. A chart audit following the trial was then conducted to elicit detailed information about duration of program participation and longer term postnatal depression status.
Results: A relationship between maternal engagement, postnatal depression and child abuse potential, maternal engagement and maternal-infant attachment, and enrollment in an augmented program and child abuse potential was found.
Conclusion: The majority of studies in this area have examined the relationship between either maternal or provider characteristics, or both, and maternal engagement. The limited and conflicting results arising from previous research may be due to a lack of depth and complexity of the variables, or potential confounders, such as community characteristics, being excluded from the analysis. There is a scarcity of research that examines complex explanatory variables and their relationship to engagement and program outcomes. This study found that maternal engagement is an important factor in success of home visiting programs in terms of outcomes achieved and program completion. Further investigation in the Australian context is needed to clarify the direction of influence of explanatory variables.
Sigma Membership
Unknown
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Home Visiting, Child Maltreatment, Engagement
Recommended Citation
Flemington, Tara J. and Fraser, Jennifer Anne, "The influence of intervention augmentation and strength of maternal engagement on community child health nurse home visiting for new parents: An exploratory study" (2012). INRC (Congress). 219.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2012/presentations_2012/219
Conference Name
23rd International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Brisbane, Australia
Conference Year
2012
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
The influence of intervention augmentation and strength of maternal engagement on community child health nurse home visiting for new parents: An exploratory study
Brisbane, Australia
Purpose: Sustained and high quality maternal involvement in home visiting programs may be an important factor in reducing child abuse potential in at-risk families. This study aimed to examine this neglected field by investigating factors predicting program engagement and relationship to maternal outcomes in an intensive, nurse-led home visiting program in South East Queensland. Using a theoretical basis of Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory and McCurdy and Daro's theory of parental engagement in home visiting programs, the study aimed to examine engagement in the Australian context.
Methods: Data from a longitudinal randomised controlled trial investigating standard nurse home visiting (Family Care) and an augmented program (PUP B) were analysed. A chart audit following the trial was then conducted to elicit detailed information about duration of program participation and longer term postnatal depression status.
Results: A relationship between maternal engagement, postnatal depression and child abuse potential, maternal engagement and maternal-infant attachment, and enrollment in an augmented program and child abuse potential was found.
Conclusion: The majority of studies in this area have examined the relationship between either maternal or provider characteristics, or both, and maternal engagement. The limited and conflicting results arising from previous research may be due to a lack of depth and complexity of the variables, or potential confounders, such as community characteristics, being excluded from the analysis. There is a scarcity of research that examines complex explanatory variables and their relationship to engagement and program outcomes. This study found that maternal engagement is an important factor in success of home visiting programs in terms of outcomes achieved and program completion. Further investigation in the Australian context is needed to clarify the direction of influence of explanatory variables.