Health Relationships: Healthy Baby programme
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of the Healthy Relationships: Healthy Baby programme
IRAS ID
187507
Contact name
Kylee Trevillion
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) is a public health problem that accounts for over 3% of the NHS budget. Prevalence estimates for DVA in pregnancy range from 3% to 30% and DVA is found to be a strong risk factor for perinatal depression. \n\nPregnancy and childbirth are major milestones in the lives of many mothers and fathers and this period can be a significant motivator for change. It presents an opportune time to intervene to prevent DVA and to support mothers and fathers to establish healthy attachments with their children. Little evidence exists on successful interventions to reduce DVA and its associated consequences for victims, perpetrators and children. Although a number of interventions have shown promise in reducing DVA and mental health problems for female victims, impacts on children’s health and the specific needs of pregnant women are overlooked. Interventions also largely fail to work with abusive fathers and do not take a whole-family approach that seeks to reduce DVA and promote healthy parenting. \n\nThe Healthy Relationships: Healthy Baby (HRHB) programme seeks to address existing limitations by developing a whole-family approach that addresses the cycles of DVA and seeks to improve mental health and parent-child attachment. \n\nThis study will evaluate the effectiveness of the HRHB programme, which includes:\n \n1. Referral and Sign Up – an orientation session and four initial assessments. \n\n2. Antenatal sessions – mothers undertake a module focusing on psychoeducation, trauma-focused and cognitive behavioural therapy exercises. Fathers undertake a module which utilises a cognitive behavioural therapy framework to address negative thinking and patterns of denial/blame. \n\n3. Postnatal sessions (infant age 0-12 Months) - parents are guided in good communication with their baby and undertake Gestalt therapy techniques and transactional analysis principles. \n\n4. Postnatal sessions (infant age 12-24 Months) - parents are supported with self-esteem, assertion and behavioural skill development alongside management of their infant’s behaviour and routines.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/2006
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion