The Added Value of Targeting Specific Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment within an Evidence-Based Home Visitation Program: A Multiple Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design

This study tests whether the effects of an evidence-based home visitation program to reduce child maltreatment can be improved by adding discrete treatment components targeting three key risk factors for child maltreatment: parental stress, parental anger, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Using a multiple baseline single-case experimental design, we will test whether including these components leads to a reduction in the targeted risk factors and in a reduction of the risk of child maltreatment.

Adding specific components designed to target three risk factors for child maltreatment (parental stress, parental anger, and post-traumatic stress symptoms) to an evidence-based home visiting program alleviates these specific risk factors.

T0: questionnaire and observation; T1 t/m T36 (weekly questionnaire); T37: questionnaire and observation

VoorZorg is a home visitation program targeting young mothers at high(er) risk for child maltreatment. Starting at pre-birth a trained nurse visits the mother on a weekly to monthly basis to reduce the risk of child maltreatment by improving pregnancy and birth outcomes (e.g. healthy lifestyle and nutrition), child’s health and development opportunities (e.g., attachment and safety), and mothers’ personal development (e.g., education or work and social support).
The aim of the present study is examining the effectiveness of added components: VoorZorg Boost. VoorZorg nurses receive a training to be able to provide additional components during six home visits: targeting parental stress (starting visit 1), parental anger (starting visit 2), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (starting visit 4). Participating mothers are randomly selected to receive additional treatment components after 5, 6 of 7 regular VoorZorg home visits.
For this study, the data collection starts when the infant is at least 3.5 months old. Participants will be asked to fill out pre- and post-test questionnaires during a home visit by a researcher including observation and weekly assessment. After the intervention, the data collection will continue until 18 house visits have been monitored.