Neural Tube Defects: A Primary Prevention Role for Nurses

Neural tube defects are among the most common and serious birth defects. Most of these defects are caused by multifactorial inheritance. Research over the past decade has led to advances in understanding the etiology of these congenital anomalies. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of first-time occurrence of neural tube defects as well as recurrent risk. Other genetic and environmental factors are under investigation. In this article, the nurse's role in the primary prevention of these birth defects is described.     

Reversing growth deficiency in children: The effect of a community-based intervention

Introduction: The effect of a community health nursing intervention on children with growth deficiency (also called nonorganic failure to thrive or growth failure) was examined in a pretest and post-test experimental study. This study evaluated the impact of the intervention on growth quotients, children's diets, parent-child interaction, home environment, and mothers' perceived stress.Methods: The sample consisted of 39 children (ages 3 months to 3 years) with growth deficiency in weight or height for age, weight for height, or a decrease in growth across two percentiles. The children were enrolled in Special Supplemental Feeding Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics in county health departments and were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. After preliminary data were collected for the entire sample, a community-based intervention was administered to the experimental group during home visits. The intervention included education about nutrition and about parenting and community skills.Results: Data collected after the intervention by a research assistant blind to group assignment indicated positive changes (P ≤ .05) in the experimental group's growth quotients, home environments, and their mothers' perceived stress.Discussion: This study supports the community health nursing practice of teaching nutrition and child care during home visits to families of children with growth deficiency.