Protocol for the PLAY Study: a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve infant development by encouraging maternal self-efficacy using behavioural feedback.

Journal: BMJ open

Volume: 13

Issue: 3

Year of Publication: 2023

Affiliated Institutions:  SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa alessandra.prioreschi@wits.ac.za. SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Department of Social Medicine, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Abstract summary 

The early infant caregiving environment is crucial in the formation of parent-child relationships, neurobehavioural development and thus child outcomes. This protocol describes the Play Love And You (PLAY) Study, a phase 1 trial of an intervention designed to promote infant development through encouraging maternal self-efficacy using behavioural feedback, and supportive interventions.210 mother-infant pairs will be recruited at delivery from community clinics in Soweto, South Africa, and individually randomised (1:1) into two groups. The trial will consist of a standard of care arm and an intervention arm. The intervention will start at birth and end at 12 months, and outcome assessments will be made when the infants are 0, 6 and 12 months of age. The intervention will be delivered by community health helpers using an app with resource material, telephone calls, in person visits and behavioural feedback with individualised support. Every 4 months, mothers in the intervention group will receive rapid feedback via the app and in person on their infant's movement behaviours and on their interaction styles with their infant. At recruitment, and again at 4 months, mothers will be screened for mental health risk and women who score in the high-risk category will receive an individual counselling session from a licensed psychologist, followed by referral and continued support as necessary. The primary outcome is efficacy of the intervention in improving maternal self-efficacy, and the secondary outcomes are infant development at 12 months, and feasibility and acceptability of each component of the intervention.The PLAY Study has received ethical approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand (M220217). Participants will be provided with an information sheet and required to provide written consent prior to being enrolled. Study results will be shared via publication in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentation and media engagement.This trial was registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za) on 10 February 2022 (identifier: PACTR202202747620052).

Authors & Co-authors:  Prioreschi Alessandra A Pearson Rebecca R Richter Linda L Bennin Fiona F Theunissen Helene H Cantrell Sarah J SJ Maduna Dumsile D Lawlor Deborah D Norris Shane A SA

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Black MM, Walker SP, Fernald LCH, et al. . Early childhood development coming of age: science through the life course. Lancet 2017;389:77–90. 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31389-7
Authors :  9
Identifiers
Doi : e064976
SSN : 2044-6055
Study Population
Women,Mothers
Mesh Terms
Infant, Newborn
Other Terms
Community child health;EPIDEMIOLOGY;PUBLIC HEALTH
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
England