Research Trials

A cornerstone of Nurse-Family Partnership is the extensive research on the model conducted over the last three decades. Randomized controlled trials were conducted with three diverse populations beginning in Elmira, New York, 1977; in Memphis, Tennessee, 1988; and Denver, Colorado, 1994. All three trials targeted first-time, low-income mothers. Follow-up research continues today, studying the long-term outcomes for mothers and children in the three trials.

Consistent Program Effects:

• Improved prenatal health
• Fewer childhood injuries
• Fewer subsequent pregnancies
• Increased intervals between births
• Increased maternal employment
• Improved school readiness for children born to mothers with low psychological resources

Results Demonstrated at 15 Year Follow-up Data Analysis:

Benefits to Mothers

• 61% fewer arrests
• 72% fewer convictions
• 98% fewer days in jail²

Benefits to Children at Child Age 15

• 48% reduction in child abuse and neglect
• 59% reduction in arrests
• 90% reduction in adjudications as PINS (person in need of supervision) for incorrigible behavior³

Colorado-Specific Outcomes

Women participating in the Colorado NFP have:

• Significant reductions (-20%) in cigarette smoking during pregnancy – an important positive outcome as the program is funded through tobacco dollars
• Significant reductions during pregnancy in nearly every measure of family/domestic violence including physical (-46%) and fear of partner (-48%)
• Increased employment in the Colorado workforce by NFP mothers of all ages
• Increased rates of marriage during participation in the NFP (from 21% at intake to 37% at program completion)
• 41% of those entering the program without a diploma or GED received their diploma/GED by program completion

Infants born to Colorado NFP mothers have:

• An overall preterm birth rate consistently lower than the Colorado rate
• An overall low birth weight rate consistently lower than the Colorado statewide rate
  
• Completed immunization rates of over 92% at 24 months of age for all vaccines; this compares with the 2007 Colorado state immunization rate for all vaccines of 78% among 19-35 month old children
• Breast feeding rates of 87% at birth; 34% continue to breast feed at 6 months of age, which is virtually identical to national rates for all mothers (and NFP in Colorado serves the most at-risk mothers in our state)
• High rates of success in achieving developmental and language milestones based on screening tests and other assessments 

About the Research

A randomized trial is the most rigorous research method for measuring the effectiveness of an intervention. This is the type of study that the FDA requires of new drugs or medical devices to determine their effectiveness and safety before they are made available to the public. Because of their cost and complexity, these kinds of trials are not often used to evaluate complex health and human services.

In addition, important data are continuously collected from Nurse-Family Partnership replication sites through the web-based Clinical Information System (CIS). These data are analyzed and returned to local Nurse-Family Partnership implementing agencies to provide them with evidence of their progress toward NFP's three goals.