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Parental priorities in the home care of preterm and full term newborns
Agnes Flórida Santos da Cunha1, Marina de Brito Brandão2, Ana Paula Bensemann Gontijo3
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil.
Insights
Parental care priorities for newborns, whether preterm or full-term, evolve over the first two months post-discharge. While bathing and navel care demands decrease, focus shifts to health and adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Parental adaptation
- Infant development
Background:
- Post-hospital discharge is a critical adaptation period for parents managing infant care responsibilities.
- Preterm birth can significantly alter parental care demands and priorities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare parental care priorities for preterm versus full-term newborns in the initial two months after hospital discharge.
- To track the evolution of these parental priorities over time.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study followed parents of 22 full-term and 19 preterm infants for two months post-discharge.
- Parental infant care demands were assessed at three time points using semi-structured interviews.
Main Results:
- Infant care demands were comparable between preterm and full-term groups, with significant within-group changes over time.
- Priorities for bathing and navel care decreased significantly (p < 0.01), while concerns about infant health care increased (p < 0.01).
- Feeding and sleep priorities reduced in the full-term group (p < 0.02), whereas adaptation to routine became a higher priority for the preterm group (p = 0.04).
Conclusions:
- Understanding parental priorities is crucial for tailoring support strategies for families with newborns.
- Healthcare teams can enhance specialized assistance by recognizing the dynamic nature of parental care demands for both preterm and full-term infants.
Background:
The initial weeks after hospital discharge is a period of adaptation when parents assume great responsibility for the care of their child. Preterm birth may impact their demands of care.
Aims:
To compare parental priorities in the care of preterm and full-term newborns in the first two months after hospital discharge and to identify changes in priorities over time.
Methods:
Parents of 22 full-term and 19 preterm infants were followed for two months after hospital discharge, with three timepoint evaluations of the parental priorities. They reported on infant care demands in a semi-structured interview.
Results:
Despite prematurity, demands were similar between groups. Within-group changes occurred over time. Priorities related to bathing and caring for the navel showed significant reduction (p < 0.01); demands related to children's health care increased in the groups (p < 0.01). Feeding and sleep priorities were reduced in the full-term group (p < 0.02). Children's adaptation to routine increased significantly in the preterm group (p = 0.04).
Conclusion:
Knowledge of parents' priorities in caring for preterm or full-term newborns at home helps health care teams develop appropriate support strategies and improve specialized assistance to the families.
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