Delivery-related knowledge of mothers of NICU infants compared with well-baby-nursery infants
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Divya Chhabra
, Jess Joymon , Ben H. Lee , Myra Mercado , Cheryl L. Hunter , Deborah Viola , Denise Tahara , Karla Damus , Edmund F. La Gamma and Heather L. Brumberg
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the knowledge of mothers of newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and well-baby nursery (WBN) regarding their understanding of term gestation, delivery mode safety, and elective late preterm delivery.
Methods: Mothers of newborns admitted to either an NICU (n=88) or a WBN (n=145) were surveyed (March 2008–September 2010).
Results: Of all mothers, regardless of infant location, 7% were unable to define term gestation, 33% were unaware that scheduling delivery at 35–36 weeks is not advisable, and 30% lacked the knowledge that cesareans are not safer than vaginal deliveries. Multivariate regression models show that socioeconomic and demographic factors underlie many knowledge gaps, and surprisingly, models confirmed that the site (NICU versus WBN) of the infant was not a significant factor related to maternal knowledge.
Conclusion: This study revealed gaps in mothers’ understanding of the medical implications of premature delivery even though most mothers knew the correct length of term gestation. Unexpectedly, NICU mothers who had a child with significant illness and who encountered multiple health care providers did not have improved understanding of perinatal risks. We conclude that all women need to be educated on the significance of the mode and the timing of delivery.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all the mothers that took the time to participate in this survey. We also thank Joshua C. Brumberg, PhD, and Stephan F. Brumberg, EdD, for helpful comments, and Eva Baldyga, Alana Chill, and Anita Mohan, DO, for assistance with data collection. This project was funded in part by the NY State Department of Health, Division of Family Health.
References
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©2014 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Guest editorial
- Guest editorial
- Original articles
- Identification and isolation of putative stem cells from the murine placenta
- Target versus actual oxygenation index at initiation of inhaled nitric oxide in neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure: survey results from 128 patient cases
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance cytokine production and oxidative stress in a mouse model of preterm labor
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in term infants born with meconium-stained amniotic fluid
- Measurement of novel biomarkers of neuronal injury and cerebral oxygenation after routine vaginal delivery versus cesarean section in term infants
- The time-associated impact of the Newborn Influenza Protection Act on infant influenza rates in New York State
- Delivery-related knowledge of mothers of NICU infants compared with well-baby-nursery infants
- Review article
- Mercury exposure in pregnancy: a review
- Original articles - Obstetrics
- A “multi-hit” model of neonatal white matter injury: cumulative contributions of chronic placental inflammation, acute fetal inflammation and postnatal inflammatory events
- Balloon tamponade for the management of postpartum uterine hemorrhage
- The IgG avidity value for the prediction of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in a prospective cohort study
- Obstetric anal sphincter injury risk reduction: a retrospective observational analysis
- Adverse perinatal outcomes related to the delivery mode in women with monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies
- Letter to the Editor
- The factors associated with the failure of transcatheter pelvic arterial embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Guest editorial
- Guest editorial
- Original articles
- Identification and isolation of putative stem cells from the murine placenta
- Target versus actual oxygenation index at initiation of inhaled nitric oxide in neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure: survey results from 128 patient cases
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance cytokine production and oxidative stress in a mouse model of preterm labor
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in term infants born with meconium-stained amniotic fluid
- Measurement of novel biomarkers of neuronal injury and cerebral oxygenation after routine vaginal delivery versus cesarean section in term infants
- The time-associated impact of the Newborn Influenza Protection Act on infant influenza rates in New York State
- Delivery-related knowledge of mothers of NICU infants compared with well-baby-nursery infants
- Review article
- Mercury exposure in pregnancy: a review
- Original articles - Obstetrics
- A “multi-hit” model of neonatal white matter injury: cumulative contributions of chronic placental inflammation, acute fetal inflammation and postnatal inflammatory events
- Balloon tamponade for the management of postpartum uterine hemorrhage
- The IgG avidity value for the prediction of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in a prospective cohort study
- Obstetric anal sphincter injury risk reduction: a retrospective observational analysis
- Adverse perinatal outcomes related to the delivery mode in women with monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies
- Letter to the Editor
- The factors associated with the failure of transcatheter pelvic arterial embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar