Researchers in the Philippines tested whether regular home visits from community health workers could help pregnant women and new mothers feel better mentally and eat healthier. They worked with over 1,500 women across 12 towns, with some receiving extra home visits and health advice while others received standard care. After one year, women who got the home visits had fewer signs of depression and remembered more health tips. However, the visits didn’t significantly change what families ate or how well-nourished the children were. The study shows that personal visits from trained community helpers can boost mental health, but more support is needed to improve nutrition.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether home visits from trained community health workers could help pregnant women and mothers with depression and improve nutrition for their families during the baby’s first 1000 days of life (from pregnancy through age 2).
  • Who participated: About 1,500 pregnant women and mothers with young children in six towns in the Philippines that received the home visit program, compared to six similar towns that didn’t. Researchers followed up with about 1,300 of these women and children after one year.
  • Key finding: Women who received regular home visits showed about 9% fewer signs of depression compared to women who didn’t get the visits. They also remembered significantly more health and nutrition advice from their visits. However, the visits didn’t lead to major improvements in what families ate or how well-nourished the children became.
  • What it means for you: If you’re pregnant or a new mother in a community with trained health workers, regular home visits may help protect your mental health and keep you informed about important health practices. However, improving nutrition may require additional support beyond home visits alone, such as help accessing nutritious foods or cooking education.

The Research Details

This study compared two groups of women and children in the Philippines. One group lived in six towns where community health workers (called Barangay health workers) made regular home visits using a special program called ’timed and targeted care for family’ (ttCF). The other group lived in six similar towns without this program. Researchers measured things like how often women received visits, what health messages they remembered, signs of depression, what families ate, and how well-nourished the children were. They collected information at the start and then again one year later.

The ’timed and targeted care’ approach means the health workers visited at important times (during pregnancy, right after birth, and in the months after) and focused on specific health topics that mattered most at each stage. This is different from random visits without a clear plan.

The researchers used statistical methods to compare the two groups and account for differences between them. They measured depression using a standard tool called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, which asks women about their mood and feelings.

This type of study design (comparing similar communities with and without an intervention) is useful for testing real-world health programs because it shows what actually happens when communities use these services. Home visits are important to study because they’re a practical way to reach families who might not visit health clinics. Understanding whether visits help with mental health and nutrition is crucial because depression in mothers can affect child development, and good nutrition in the first 1000 days shapes lifelong health.

The study was reasonably large with over 1,500 participants and tracked them for a full year, which is a good length of time to see changes. The researchers measured multiple important outcomes, not just one thing. However, because this wasn’t a randomized controlled trial (where people are randomly assigned to groups), we can’t be completely certain that the visits caused the improvements—other differences between the towns might have played a role. The study was published in a reputable global health journal, suggesting it met scientific standards. The researchers were transparent about what worked and what didn’t, which increases trust in their findings.

What the Results Show

Women in the intervention towns received significantly more home visits from health workers. During pregnancy, they averaged 3.2 visits compared to 1.7 visits in comparison towns. After giving birth, they averaged 2.6 visits compared to 1.3 visits. This means the program successfully increased contact between health workers and families.

Women who received more home visits remembered much more of the health and nutrition advice they were given. They scored about 2.25 points higher on a scale measuring recall of prenatal care advice, 1.83 points higher for birth-related information, and 2.20 points higher for postpartum care information. This shows the visits were effective at helping women learn and remember important health information.

The most significant finding was on mental health. Women in the intervention group showed about 9% fewer signs of depression compared to the comparison group. On a depression screening scale, they scored 1.20 points lower, which suggests fewer depressive symptoms. This is meaningful because depression during pregnancy and after birth can affect both the mother’s wellbeing and the baby’s development.

However, the study found no significant differences between the two groups in terms of what families ate (dietary diversity) or how well-nourished the children were. This suggests that while the visits improved mental health and knowledge, they didn’t translate into better nutrition outcomes without additional support.

The study measured several nutrition-related outcomes but found no significant improvements in the intervention group. This includes measures of maternal diet variety, child feeding practices, and child growth measurements. The researchers noted this as an important finding because nutrition is a key focus of maternal and child health programs. The lack of nutrition improvement despite better health knowledge suggests that families may face barriers to eating better foods, such as cost, availability, or other challenges that home visits alone cannot address.

Previous research has shown that home visits from health workers can improve various health outcomes, but results vary depending on what the visits focus on and how well they’re implemented. This study adds to that evidence by showing that visits specifically designed to improve mental health and nutrition can succeed with mental health but may need additional components for nutrition. The finding that knowledge improved but nutrition didn’t is consistent with other research showing that simply providing information isn’t always enough to change eating habits—people also need access to affordable healthy foods and practical support.

The study wasn’t a randomized controlled trial, meaning people weren’t randomly assigned to receive visits or not. Instead, entire towns were assigned to the intervention or comparison group. This means differences between the towns (not just the visits) could explain some results. The study only followed people for one year, so we don’t know if benefits lasted longer or if nutrition improved over more time. The researchers couldn’t measure everything perfectly—for example, depression was measured using a screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis by a doctor. Additionally, the study was conducted in the Philippines, so results might differ in other countries with different healthcare systems, food availability, or cultural practices. The study didn’t measure whether the program was cost-effective or practical to scale up to larger areas.

The Bottom Line

If you’re pregnant or a new mother and have access to trained community health workers who offer home visits, these visits appear beneficial for mental health and learning about proper care practices. The evidence suggests moderate confidence that visits can reduce depression symptoms. However, if you’re concerned about nutrition, home visits alone may not be enough—you may also need help accessing affordable nutritious foods, cooking education, or other nutrition support. If you’re experiencing depression, home visits should complement, not replace, professional mental health care when available.

Pregnant women and mothers of young children should care about these findings, especially those at risk for depression or living in areas with limited access to healthcare clinics. Community health workers and public health programs should care because this shows their work can meaningfully reduce depression. Healthcare policymakers should note that while home visits are valuable for mental health, additional interventions are needed for nutrition. This research is most relevant to low- and middle-income countries with similar healthcare systems to the Philippines, though the principles may apply more broadly.

Based on this study, women who received regular home visits showed improvements in depression symptoms and health knowledge within one year. Mental health improvements may begin within the first few months of regular visits, though the study measured outcomes at the one-year mark. Nutrition improvements, if they occur with additional support, would likely take longer as eating habits change gradually. Don’t expect immediate changes—consistent visits over several months appear necessary to see benefits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track mood and mental health weekly using a simple 1-10 scale or by logging specific symptoms like sleep quality, energy level, and feelings of sadness. Compare your scores month-to-month to see if they improve with regular health worker visits or other support. This creates a personal record you can share with healthcare providers.
  • Use the app to set reminders for scheduled home visits with your health worker and to review the health tips discussed during each visit. Create a checklist of nutrition and care recommendations from your visits, then track which ones you’re able to implement. Share your progress with your health worker at the next visit to identify barriers and solutions together.
  • Maintain a long-term mood journal in the app that tracks patterns over months and seasons. Set monthly goals based on health worker recommendations and monitor progress. If depression symptoms worsen or don’t improve after 2-3 months of visits, use the app to document this and discuss it with your healthcare provider, as you may need additional mental health support beyond home visits.

This research suggests that home visits from trained community health workers may help reduce depression symptoms in pregnant women and new mothers, but it does not replace professional medical care or mental health treatment. If you experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. This study was conducted in the Philippines and results may vary in different settings. Nutrition improvements may require additional interventions beyond home visits. Always discuss any health concerns or changes with your doctor or healthcare provider before making decisions based on this research.