Literacy promotion for Hispanic families in a primary care setting: a randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Reading aloud is an important activity to prepare children to succeed in learning to read. Many Hispanic children have reading difficulties and therefore are at increased risk for school failure.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of a literacy promoting intervention delivered to low-income Hispanic families with infants. We consecutively enrolled 135 low-income Hispanic parents of healthy 5 to 11 month old infants. Families were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 65) or control (n = 70) group. At enrollment and at two consecutive well-child visits, pediatricians gave intervention families: 1) an age-appropriate bilingual children's book, 2) a bilingual handout explaining the benefits of reading to children, and 3) literacy-promoting anticipatory guidance. Ten months after enrollment we reinterviewed 130 parents.


RESULTS
Both groups were comparable at baseline. At follow-up, intervention parents were more likely to read books with their child at least 3 days/week (intervention = 66% vs control parents = 24%) and to report that reading books was one of their three most favorite things to do with their child (intervention = 43% vs controls = 13%). Intervention families also had a greater number of children's books and total books at home. Using a multiple logistic regression model, controlling for child and parental age, reading habits, and English proficiency, we found that the odds of parents reading to their child at least 3 days/week were 10 times greater in intervention families (OR 10.1, 95% CI 4.0-25.6) compared with control families.


CONCLUSIONS
This simple, culturally appropriate intervention significantly increased literacy behaviors in low-income Hispanic families.
Golova
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Alario
A J
AJ
Vivier
P M
PM
Rodriguez
M
M
High
P C
PC
D000328:Adult; D001877:Books; D002662:Child Health Services; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011203:Poverty; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011932:Reading