[The "Marrainage" Project: a nonprofessional intervention with families at risk for child neglect].

The "Marrainage" project involves the implementation and evaluation of an intervention to prevent negligence in at-risk families with at least one child between the age of 0 and 5. The goal of the intervention is to introduce into those families, working nonprofessionals who can help them create their own natural support network and improve the quality of the family environment. The sponsors offer the following support services: emotional support, counselling-information, physical assistance, social skills development, positive feedback, and material needs.

Time trends in characteristics and outcome of twin pregnancies.

This study describes the evolution in fetal and neonatal mortality rates among twin pairs born in 22 hospitals located in the eastern regions of the province of Quebec in 1976-1978 (n = 776 pairs) and 1982-1985 (n = 712 pairs). It also assesses the contribution of maternal factors, obstetrical care and characteristics of twins in the variation of the risk of death over time. The fetal mortality rate did not improve from 1976-1978 (22.