Effect of Child Development Centre model early stimulation among at risk babies--a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effectiveness of Child Development Centre (CDC) model early stimulation therapy done in the first year of postnatal life, in improving the developmental outcome of at-risk neonates at one and two years of age.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
The study participants included a consecutive sample of 800 babies discharged alive from the level II nursery of Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.


METHODS
The control group received routine postnatal check-up as per hospital practice. Intervention group in addition received CDC model early stimulation therapy (home-based).


RESULTS
The intervention group of babies had a statistically significant higher score for mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) at one and two years of age. After adjusting all significant risk factors for development, the babies who had intervention had significantly higher Bayley scores, 5.8 units at one year and 2.8 units at two year, as compared to control babies.


CONCLUSIONS
Early stimulation therapy was effective at one year. The beneficial effect also persisted at two years, without any additional interventions in the second year.
Nair
M K C
MK
Child Development Centre, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram 695 011, Kerala, India. nairmkc@rediffmail.com
Philip
Elsie
E
Jeyaseelan
L
L
George
Babu
B
Mathews
Suja
S
Padma
K
K
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis