The Impact of a Clinic-Based Literacy Intervention on Language Development in Inner-City Preschool Children

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.107.1.130
• Publication Date: 2004-08-13T23:55:51Z
• Authors: Alan L. Mendelsohn; Leora N. Mogilner; Benard P. Dreyer; Joel A. Forman; Stacey C. Weinstein; Monica Broderick; Karyn J. Cheng; Tamara Magloire; Taska Moore; Camille Napier
• Keywords: Male; Chi-Square Distribution; 4. Education; Urban Health; Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; Language Development; Education; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Humans; Regression Analysis; Female; New York City; Parent-Child Relations; 10. No inequality

Objective. To determine the effect of a clinic-based literacy intervention on language development preschool children. Methods. A convenience sample families presenting to 2 urban pediatric clinics for well-child care met following criteria: family was Latino or black and English- Spanish-speaking; child 5.9 years old, with no neurodevelopmental disability, at gestational age 34 weeks more, not attending kindergarten. Participants first clinic (intervention group) were exposed support program, based Reach Out Read (ROR), during previous 3 years. At second (comparison group), similar program started months before study. Parent-child reading activities measured using READ Subscale StimQ. Language One-Word Expressive Receptive Picture Vocabulary Tests, performed in child's primary language. Results. total 122 study participants (49 interventions 73 comparisons) inclusion criteria completed all measures. Intervention comparison most sociodemographic variables. reported together their children approximately 1 more day per week. Intensity exposure ROR (measured by number contacts program) associated increased parent-child activities, as StimQ-Read (r = 0.20). had higher receptive (mean: 94.5 vs 84.8) expressive 84.3 81.6). After adjusting potential confounders multiple regression analysis, status an 8.6-point increase (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3, 14.0) (semipartial correlation [SR]coefficient 0.27), 4.3-point CI: 0.04, 8.6) (SR 0.17). In regression, each contact adjusted mean 0.4-point 0.1, 0.6) score, 0.21-point 0.02, 0.4) score. Conclusions. is important intervention, promoting parental enhancing impoverished Integration such these into routine health underserved populations can be recommended.