Objective. To examine differences in women who choose to participate in a randomized child abuse prevention trial from those who do not. To examine if the intervention impacts depression or partner violence prenatally and postnatally Methods. First time pregnant women, less than 28 weeks gestation, and below 133% of the federal poverty level were eligible. Consenting women were randomized to one of two intervention groups or a control group. The intervention consisted of home visits by a public health nurse beginning during pregnancy until the child reaches age two. Data were collected prenatally (Research Visit 1) and at six to eight months postpartum (Research Visit 2). All eligible women were asked to complete a Potential Participant Form. Depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory and partner violence was measured using the Partner Violence Inventory. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the participation data. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used to analyze the depression and partner violence data. In addition, paired t tests were used to analyze partner violence over time Results. Fifty-three percent of eligible women were randomized. Women were more likely to enroll if they were recruited by a program nurse, were African American, were less than 13 weeks gestation, and from St. Martin parish. When Passive Consentors were recoded as Non-Consentors, receiving a greater number of social services and having an unplanned pregnancy also increased the likelihood of enrollment. Prenatally, 26% of the study population was classified as depressed. The intervention groups combined had a lower number of depressed women than the control group (p < .02). At Research Visit 2, 11% of women were classified as depressed although there were no group differences. Prenatally, 17% of women reported being victims of current partner violence and 21% reported that they had perpetrated current partner violence. At Research Visit 2, 11% reported current violence and 5% perpetrated current violence. Reports of current partner violence increased in the control group from the prenatal to the postpartum period, although this difference was not statistically significant Conclusion. Recruitment efficiency can be improved by increasing the recruiting nurses' knowledge of the program, identifying women early in the pregnancy, and targeting women that are not taking advantage of available social services. More mental health services are needed to address the high prevalence of prenatal and postpartum depression and partner violence