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Parents' Acute Illnesses, Hospitalizations, and Medication Changes During the Difficult First Year After Infant or
Dorothy Brooten1, JoAnne M Youngblut1, Carmen Caicedo1
11 Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Insights
Parental physical health declines after infant death, especially in the first six months and again between 11-13 months post-loss. Mothers experienced higher illness rates than fathers, irrespective of race.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care outcomes
- Parental health and bereavement
- Public health and epidemiology
Background:
- Infant/child death, particularly following neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stays, is a significant stressor.
- Limited research exists on the physical health impacts on parents during the first year after such a loss.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing targeted support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patterns of acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication changes in parents up to 13 months post-infant/child death.
- To examine these health patterns across three racial/ethnic groups.
- To identify critical time periods for parental health monitoring and intervention.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of longitudinal parent health data collected 1 to 13 months after infant/child death in NICU/PICU settings.
- Recruitment of 176 mothers and 73 fathers from four children's hospitals and state death records.
- Data collection included self-reported acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication adjustments.
Main Results:
- Parental acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication changes peaked between months 1-6 post-death, with a secondary increase from months 11-13.
- Mothers reported significantly more acute illnesses (300) and hospitalizations (89) than fathers (104 illnesses, 9 hospitalizations).
- Common maternal issues included colds/flu, headaches, anxiety/depression, and infections; common paternal issues were colds/flu and headaches.
Conclusions:
- Mothers exhibit greater physical morbidity than fathers following infant/child death in NICU/PICU settings.
- No significant differences in parental health impacts were observed across the studied racial/ethnic groups.
- Interventions should focus on monitoring and supporting parental health, particularly during the 1-6 and 11-13 month periods post-loss.
Background And Objectives:
Infant/child death is described as a most stressful life event; however, there are few reports of effects on parent physical health during the first year after the death. The study's purpose is to examine the patterns of parent acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication changes over 1 to 13 months after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) infant/child death in 3 racial/ethnic groups.
Methods:
Secondary analyses were conducted with longitudinal data on parent health and functioning 1 to 13 months after infant/child NICU/PICU death. Parents (176 mothers, 73 fathers; 44% Hispanic, 35% black non-Hispanic, and 21% white non-Hispanic) of deceased infants/children were recruited from 4 children's hospitals and state death records. Inclusion criteria-parents understood English or Spanish and had a deceased neonate/child ≤ 18. Exclusion criteria -deceased newborn from multiple gestation pregnancy, child in foster care, child's injury due to suspected abuse, or parent death in illness/injury event. Parents reported numbers and types of acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication changes 1 to 13 months postdeath.
Results:
Parents' acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication changes were greatest between months 1 and 6, with relative quiescence in months 7 to 10, and an increase in months 11 to 13. Mothers (aged 32 ± 7.8 years) reported 300 acute illnesses (primarily colds/flu, headaches, anxiety/depression, and infections) and 89 hospitalizations (primarily infections, chest pain, and gastrointestinal problems). Fathers (aged 37 ± 8.8 years) reported 104 acute illnesses (colds/flu and headaches) and 9 hospitalizations.
Conclusion:
After infant/child NICU/PICU death, mothers had greater morbidity than fathers, with no significant differences by race/ethnicity. Parents' health needs to be monitored in months 1 to 6 and months 11 to 13, and interventions targeted to parents in these months.
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