DOI: 10.3886/icpsr38396.v1
title: Birth Outcomes of Second Children After Community-Based Home Visiting, 2005-2015, Connecticut
title: Version 1

description: The purpose of the original research project was to evaluate birth outcomes of second children after community-based home visiting ("Nurturing Families Network" (NFN)) that targeted first-time parents. Outcomes measured include gestational age, birthweight, pregnancy spacing, cesarean sections, and timing of prenatal care initiation.
description: The purpose of the original research project was to evaluate birth outcomes of second children after community-based home visiting that targeted first time parents. Birth certificate data was used to create comparison groups for this observational study. Birth outcomes for the Nurturing Families Network (NFN) second children were compared to: (a) their older siblings (the children whose birth led to enrollment in NFN, (b) a propensity-score-matched group of non-NFN children, and (c) children of families who were screened as eligible for NFN, but not offered the program due to home visitor availability and other logistical reasons. Due to the small size of the group and substantial differences in baseline characteristics, this last group (c: eligible but unenrolled) are not included in this dataset.
description: Birth certificate data were used to create comparison groups for this observational study. Birth outcomes for the Nurturing Families Network (NFN) second children were compared to: (a) their older siblings (the children whose birth led to enrollment in NFN), (b) a propensity-score-matched group of non-NFN children, and (c) children of families who were screened as eligible for NFN, but not offered the program due to home visitor availability and other logistical reasons. Due to the small size of the group and substantial differences in baseline characteristics, this last group (c: eligible but unenrolled) are not included in this dataset.
The primary data sources include NFN program data and Connecticut (CT) Birth Certificate data for 2005-2015. Access to the NFN dataset came in partnership with the University of Hartford Center for Social Research. The Connecticut Department of Public Health provided access to the CT Birth Certificate data. Data were collected through administrative and medical records. Birth certificates providing birth outcome information were linked to NFN data based on multiple identifying variables.
Probabilistic record linkages were used to associate NFN dataset and birth-certificate dataset observations. Pairs were identified that closely matched on variables present in both datasets (i.e., mother's date of birth (DOB), child's DOB, town of residence, child sex, and mother race/ethnicity). These were the only identifiers present in both datasets. Second siblings were identified using the mothers' birth-certificate identifier. For both the first and second pregnancy, if there were multiple children (i.e., twins, triplets, etc.), only the first born was used in this dataset.
description: This dataset was produced by a project that examined birth outcomes for families involved with the Connecticut community-based home visiting program, NFN, and propensity-score-matched families of non-NFN children (created using the likelihood to enroll in the program based on maternal health, individual demographics, and neighborhood characteristic).
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Birth Outcomes of Second Children After Community-Based Home Visiting, 2005-2015, Connecticut
description: First-born children born in Connecticut from 2005 to 2015, their mothers, and their next-younger siblings, if any born by the end of 2015..
description: Two sources of administrative data were linked using probabilistic linkage and a comparison group was created using propensity score matching. The intervention and created comparison groups are included in the dataset.
The datasets linked were:

Connecticut's Nurturing Families Network home visiting program administrative data
Connecticut Birth Certificate data
The dataset available here has been deidentified.These data have previously been released via openICPSR.