Assessing infant-oriented care with developmental support approach in Iranian NICUs

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Developmental pediatrics
• Public health

Background:

• Developmental care programs aim to mitigate negative impacts of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and special care on premature infant brain development.
• Assessing the current state of neonatal care in Iranian NICUs through a developmental lens is crucial for creating effective clinical guidelines.
• Guidelines are intended for caregivers and families to enhance daily care practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current status of neonatal care within Iranian NICUs.
• To identify areas for improvement in developmental care practices.
• To inform the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines for NICU care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted across 23 NICUs affiliated with 9 Universities of Medical Sciences in Iran.
• A 30-item checklist, divided into 6 domains, was used for data collection.
• Data analysis was performed using STATA software, version 13.

Main Results:

• The overall mean score for developmental care in Iranian NICUs was 31.29 out of 100, with all domain scores below 50.
• Specific domain scores included: supporting infant (34.76), developmental caregiving activities (21.6), supporting infant's state organization (20), neonatal pain management (30.18), developmental care in documentation (31.30), and NICU staffing for developmental care (50).

Conclusions:

• Low infant-centered developmental care scores indicate that healthcare staff prioritize general neonatal care over its impact on infant development.
• There is an identified gap in recognizing the infant as an active participant in their own care.
• Findings underscore the necessity for enhanced training and implementation of developmental care principles in Iranian NICUs.