Efectos de mediano plazo de un programa de intervención para madres adolescentes

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the medium-term results of an experimental study which evaluates the effects of home visits by para-professionals to a sample of adolescent mothers, which was successful in the short-term. DESIGN: Quantitative, follow up of two cohorts. FIELD OF STUDY: Two health centers in low socioeconomic areas, Santiago, Chile. PARTICIPANTS: From a sample of 104 adolescent mothers and their children, 69 were contacted when their sons or daughters were 48 month old. Lost data was about 33.6%. INTERVENTIONS: Outcomes variables were: mental health of the mothers; their social, work, and family integration; their interaction with the child; and language and socio-emotional development of the child. The independent variable was the intervention: home visiting. PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENT: The short-term evaluation in the experimental and control groups was carried out using standardized questionnaires when the children were between 12 and 15 months old, and the medium-term evaluation at the age of 48 months. RESULTS: The short term positive effects on the mental health of the mother and on language development of the child were not sustained in the medium-term. The only positive effect was the stability in the relationship with their partners. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, the importance of maintaining regular visits, in order to prevent the fading of the initial effects, is discussed.