Effect of a Community Agency–Administered Nurse Home Visitation Program on Program Use and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes

Abstract

Key Points Question What is the effect of a nurse home visitation program for families with newborns implemented in a community setting on program penetration and fidelity and family outcomes? Findings This community-based randomized clinical trial found that the visitation program was implemented with 76% penetration and 90% adherence to the protocol, leading nurses to address minor problems for 52% of families and connect an additional 42% to community resources. Analyses of interviews and administrative records indicated that families assigned to the intervention had more community connections, fewer cases of maternal anxiety or depression, and fewer investigations for child abuse. Meaning This study demonstrates successful implementation and decreased child abuse investigations among participants in a postnatal nurse home visitation program implemented at scale in a community setting.