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Updated: May 15, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Maternal and infant predictors of attendance at Neonatal Follow-Up programmes
M Ballantyne1, B Stevens, A Guttmann
1School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Maternal factors like single parenting, worry, and distance impact attendance at Neonatal Follow-Up (NFU) programmes. Higher maternal stress increases NFU attendance for high-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Public health
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Neonatal Follow-Up (NFU) programmes support high-risk infants and families.
- Attendance rates for NFU programmes can be as low as 30%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify maternal and infant factors predicting attendance at Neonatal Follow-Up programmes.
- To understand barriers and facilitators to NFU programme engagement.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, two-phase, multi-site descriptive cohort study.
- Utilized Andersen's Behavioural Model of Health Services Use.
- Collected data from 357 mothers pre-NICU discharge and tracked attendance over 12 months.
Main Results:
- Single mothers, those with higher worry about substance use, and those living farther from NFU were less likely to attend.
- Increased maternal stress during NICU hospitalization predicted higher NFU attendance.
- No infant-related factors predicted NFU attendance.
Conclusions:
- Mothers at risk of non-attendance need better identification and support.
- Targeted interventions can improve engagement with NFU programmes.
- Enhanced engagement promotes better outcomes for high-risk infants.
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