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A randomized controlled trial of the provision of a social support service during pregnancy: the South Manchester Family Worker Project
Author(s) -
SPENCER BRENDA,
THOMAS HELEN,
MORRIS JANE
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1989.tb02387.x
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , medicine , pregnancy , service (business) , social support , family medicine , nursing , demography , psychology , social psychology , sociology , business , genetics , surgery , marketing , biology
Summary A pilot scheme was introduced in Manchester to provide additional social support to pregnant women at above average risk of giving birth to a low‐birthweight baby. The help of lay workers, known as family workers, was made available to eligible women. The effect on infant birthweight of offering the help of a family worker was assessed by a randomized controlled trial. No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control group, but on a number of grounds the interpretation of this finding is not straightforward, and further research is recommended.