info@efcni.org

Other content tagged: news research

Health-related quality of life in very and extremely preterm born children at the age of five years

A European study with more than 3600 participants measured how health-related quality of life in children at the age of five is affected by extreme and very preterm birth. The results show that quality of life is particularly lower in extremely preterm born children. Compared to children who are born at term, preterm born children often have a higher risk of mortality and developing serious complications. Children who are born before 28 weeks of gestation…
Read more

Keeping parents and their babies close – results of an international study on implementation, facilitators, and barriers in neonatal units

Family integrated care (FICare) is important for parent and infant health. A recent study gives an overview of current facilitators and barriers to parent-infant closeness and zero-separation in hospitals in 19 countries. The findings show that the separation of parents and their babies is very common. The study found four themes that could help explain the challenges that families and healthcare professionals encounter: Culture, Collaboration, Capacities and Coaching. When mother and child are separated during…
Read more

Parent-support intervention in end-of-life-care at a neonatal intensive care unit in China

A study conducted at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in China investigated the impact of parental involvement in the end-of-life-care (EOLC) of their preterm infants on parental depression and satisfaction with their child’s medical treatment. Parents who received the intervention spent time caring for their newborn in the final days of the infant’s life and experienced lower levels of depression and greater satisfaction with the care provided than those who opted for standard EOLC.…
Read more

Experiences on delivery and breastfeeding practices in Beijing, China during Covid-19

A Chinese study compared women’s experiences who delivered before and during the lockdown regarding feeding practices and childbearing. Interestingly, breastfeeding was seemingly positively influenced by the lockdown, the study from Beijing shows. The COVID-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on all aspects of life, including pregnant and delivering women and their families. Despite the severity of the virus, the WHO recommended breastfeeding during the pandemic, when taking suitable precautions, as human milk is the optimal…
Read more

Mothers’ experiences of early skin-to-skin contact vs. traditional separation approach after a very preterm birth

Researchers in Norway explored experiences of mothers of very preterm children regarding early skin-to-skin contact vs. a traditional separation approach. Mothers benefited from skin-to-skin contact as it ensured them the vitality of the infant, promoted bonding and gave them an overall positive, emotionally overwhelming experience. In the last decades, contact between mother and child immediately after birth has changed. Nowadays, skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is mostly promoted, which also applies to caesarean sections. According to the…
Read more

Effects of growth differences during twin pregnancy on later life

Researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands found that children who have received less nutrients during pregnancy compared to their identical twin sibling have a higher risk of developmental problems later in life. This disbalance in nutrient supply can be a health-related disadvantage affecting their entire life. Ten to 15 percent of twin pregnancies are characterised by an uneven distribution of the placenta. This means that one child receives a larger…
Read more

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in children and adolescents

With the use of an online questionnaire, more than 5000 families in the region of South Tyrol, Italy, were asked about the consequences of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health and quality of life of children and adolescents. The results show that the pandemic was not only a burden for parents, but severely affected social and family life, media use, health and finally quality of life in children and adolescents (7-19…
Read more

Relation between vaginal hygiene practices and spontaneous preterm birth

Researchers from the Netherlands wanted to find out if there is an association between vaginal hygiene practices before and during pregnancy and spontaneous preterm birth. As one of the results, the study suggests that there is a relation between the use of vaginal gel and spontaneous preterm birth. Therefore, a new potential risk factor could have been discovered with this research, and women should be informed about it. Every year, one in ten babies is…
Read more

Global trends in preterm birth from 1990-2019

In a recent study from China, data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study have been analysed to show trends in preterm birth. Deaths and incident cases decreased globally, but on a regional and national level, preterm birth rates also increased. Preterm birth is a global issue. Almost 15 million infants were born too soon (preterm) in 2014, with a global incidence rate of 10.6%. Despite improvements in medical care, increases in preterm…
Read more

Developmentally supportive care among NICU nurses in South Korea

The implementation of developmentally supportive care can directly impact the health outcome of preterm babies.  A study evaluated South Korean NICU nurses’ experience and perception regarding this approach. Of the 160 participants, almost half could not provide adequate developmentally supportive care, and all nurses indicated the need for education on the matter. Preterm birth rates have increased in South Korea during the last years, and management and care provision has become a significant healthcare…
Read more