Impact of early home intervention on the growth of low-income infants with failure-to-thrive: Infancy through age

Abstract

Evaluated the longterm impact of home intervention on growth of children with failure-to-thrive (FTT). 130 children under age 2 (mean age = 12.7 months, SD = 6.4) recruited from urban pédiatrie primary care clinics. Born at gestational age > 36 weeks, birthweight AGA, no organic problems. Weight-for-age < 5th percentile at recruitment. Randomized into clinic plus home intervention (n=64) or clinic only (n=66). All children followed in a multidisciplinary Growth and Nutrition Clinic. Home intervention conducted by trained lay personnel who provided maternal support and guidance in parent-child developmental activities during weekly visits for one year. Hierarchial linear modeling used to examine intraindividual growth curves from recruitment through age 4. Rate of linear growth higher among children who received home intervention. No difference in rate of weight gain as a function of home intervention. Findings support a cautious optimism regarding the impact of home intervention on growth among children with FTT. Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Research Program.