Korean J Perinatol.  2014 Jun;25(2):75-82. 10.14734/kjp.2014.25.2.75.

Study on the Effects of the Family Support in the Very Low Birth Weight Infants Follow-Up: Focus on Dodam Dodam Bring-Up Center

• Ji ES
• Byun JL
• Park HW
• Kim MH

• KMID: 2280957
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/kjp.2014.25.2.75

Abstract

PURPOSE
After discharge from the hospital, very low birth weight infants require care consultation, information, and interaction and so forth, due to sequelae, different growth and developmental pattern; which increase the burdens and the worries of patients in nurturing them. With the counseling of experts in the related fields, the authors and the Food for the Hungry have run a department of childcare for a year, emphasizing on more family support than extreme early detection of disabilities. This study reports on relieving child care anxiety, promoting growth and development, educating parents on home treatment of sequelae, finding and coping with minor disabilities.
METHODS
The subjects were chosen among infants under 1,500 g of birth weight and younger than a corrected age of 6 months. Meetings were held once in a month for a year. Infant care support classes were taught by experts in their fields including a music therapist (with play program), neonatologist, a children's nurse, a child-care director, a clinical psychologist, a rehabilitation therapist, a social worker and, a nutritionist. Within the self-dependent groups, the families were able to share their concerns and experiences on child-caring. Second home visits were carried out to monitor home oxygen therapy, tube feeding, cerebral palsy signs, and to find neglect or abuse in suspected cases.
RESULTS
Fifty-one infants participated; the average weight was 1,060 g, the average gestational age was 27 weeks and 2 days. Eighteen were boys and 23 girls. The average age of the mothers was 33.4, and there were 26 appropriate for gestational age, 8 small for gestational age, and, 5 large for gestational age. Twenty three were first-born, 13 were second-born, 1 was third-born, and twins were 4 pairs. Home visits were done in 33 families, and secondary visits were done in 6 families. The depression score of mothers in the attendant group decreased from 10.47+/-5.18 to 8.18+/-5.87 (P=0.080).
CONCLUSION
The depression score of mothers in the attendant group decreased after infant care support classes.

Keyword

Very low birth weight infant; Follow up; Family support; Depression score

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Birth Weight
Cerebral Palsy
Child
Child Care
Counseling
Depression
Enteral Nutrition
Female
Follow-Up Studies*
Gestational Age
Growth and Development
House Calls
Humans
Infant Care
Infant*
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Mothers
Music
Nutritionists
Oxygen
Parents
Psychology
Rehabilitation
Social Workers
Twins
Oxygen

Figure

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  Fig. 1. View of the bring-up center meeting.

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