Helping opioid-dependent mothers in poverty improve parenting and infant health

Intervening with Opioid-Dependent Mothers Living in Poverty: Effects on Mothers' and Infants' Behavioral and Biological Regulation

NIH-funded research University of Delaware · NIH-10809060

This study is looking at how a special home visiting program can help moms who are struggling with opioid dependence and living in tough situations, by providing them with support during their pregnancy to improve their parenting and their baby's health.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Delaware NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10809060 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how a specialized home visiting program can support mothers who are dependent on opioids and living in poverty. The program aims to enhance maternal sensitivity and improve the behavioral and biological regulation of their infants. Mothers in their third trimester of pregnancy will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which receives tailored support, or a control group. The study will measure the effectiveness of the intervention on both maternal behaviors and infant health outcomes, focusing on stress hormone levels and autonomic nervous system function.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women who are opioid-dependent and living in poverty.

Not a fit: Patients who are not opioid-dependent or those who are not pregnant may not receive any benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved parenting practices and better health outcomes for infants born to opioid-dependent mothers.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that home visiting programs can be effective in improving parenting and child outcomes, suggesting potential success for this adapted approach.

Where this research is happening

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.