| Objective
The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing the number of
times neonatal intensive care unit admitted preterm infants attend Neonatal
Follow up and Early Intervention services (NFEI) during first year of life.
Materials &Methods
A parent-report questionnaire was administered via phone after the first
birthday of preterm infants admitted to the NICU at Arash Hospital,
Tehran, for at least 24 h, and who received standard NICU-based
therapeutic services, from Apr 2014 to Feb 2015. Data included mother’s
age, education, type of pregnancy, history of abortion or premature birth,
self-reported post-partum depression, number of children, infant’s gender,
birth weight, gestational age, length of stay in the NICU, living area, twin
or triplet birth, number of siblings, and the child rank. Number of attending
times to services was recorded. Another question addressed the causes of
not attending the NFEI services.
Results
Ultimately, 119 eligible children participated, 51% were girls and whose
mean birth weight was 1908±626.7 gr, and average length of NICU stay
was 20.1±16.9 d. After multivariate analysis, shorter length of stay in
the NICU, lower maternal education, number of children, self-declared
lack of awareness about early intervention services, and self-reported
lack of referral by a physician were the only factors that continued to be
significantly correlated, and in fact, the truly influential ones associated
with number of attending times.
Conclusion
This study has defined some predictors of poor follow up and early
intervention service utilization in a high-risk group of infants suggested be
addressing and tackling by policymakers. |