The impact of Anchor, a home visitation programme for maltreated children, on child developmental and behavioural outcomes.
10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2024281
- Author:
Shi Hua CHAN
1
;
Jean Yin OH
2
;
Li Ming ONG
2
;
Wen Hann CHOW
2
;
Oh Moh CHAY
2
;
Salam SOLIMAN
3
;
Lourdes Mary DANIEL
1
;
Pratibha AGARWAL
1
;
Charmain Samantha TAN
1
;
Jun Lin SAI
2
;
Joanne Ferriol ESPECKERMAN
4
;
Rehena SULTANA
5
;
Cong Jin Wilson LOW
2
;
Sita Padmini YELESWARAPU
1
Author Information
1. Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
2. Division of Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
3. National Service Office for Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First, Denver, Colorado, US.
4. Psychology Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
5. Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
ACEs;
adverse childhood experiences;
behavioural difficulties;
caregiver mental health;
child development;
child maltreatment;
community health visitor;
developmental delay;
externalising behaviour;
home visit;
home visitation programme;
internalising behaviour;
paediatrics
- MeSH:
Humans;
Female;
Male;
Child Abuse/therapy*;
Child, Preschool;
Singapore;
House Calls;
Infant;
Prospective Studies;
Child Development;
Developmental Disabilities/epidemiology*;
Program Evaluation;
Child Behavior Disorders;
Child Behavior
- From:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
2025;54(4):208-218
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with significant long-term impacts, yet few interventions specifically target ACE exposure, especially in Asian populations. Anchor, Singapore's first home visitation programme, addresses maltreat-ment among preschool children. This study evaluated Anchor's impact on children's developmental and behavioural outcomes.
METHOD:We conducted a prospective evaluation of children under 4 years assessed for maltreatment from November 2019 to July 2023. Developmental and behavioural progress was measured every 6 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and ASQ:Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE-2), and annually using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL).
RESULTS:The results of 125 children (mean age 20.0 months, 48% female) were analysed. The mean length of stay in programme was 21.2 (7.3) months. At baseline, 92 (73.6%) children were at risk of develop-mental delay and 25 (31.7%) children aged ≥18 months had behavioural concerns. The programme was associated with significant improvements in gross motor (P=0.002) and fine motor (P=0.001) domains of the ASQ-3 and internalising problem scale (P=0.001) of the CBCL.
CONCLUSION:Anchor effectively enhances develop-mental and behavioural outcomes for children exposed to maltreatment. Targeted early intervention through such programmes can mitigate adverse impacts, optimising developmental trajectories and potentially reducing the long-term clinical and economic burdens associated with ACEs.
