Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developmental care practices for infants born preterm

Neonatal Therapy Staffing in the United States and Relationships to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Type and Location, Level of Acuity, and Population Factors

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to (1) estimate the total pool of neonatal therapists (occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists who work in the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU]) and the average number represented in each U.S. based NICU, and (2) investigate the relationships between the number and type of neonatal therapy team members to NICU/hospital, population, and therapy factors.

STUDY DESIGN

This study used several methods of data collection (surveys, phone calls, and web site searches) that were combined to establish a comprehensive list of factors across each NICU in the United States.

RESULTS

We estimate that there are 2,333 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions designated to neonatal therapy coverage, with 4,232 neonatal therapists covering those FTEs. Among 564 NICUs with available neonatal therapy staffing data, 432 (76%) had a dedicated therapy team, 103 (18%) had pro re nata (as the circumstances arise; PRN) therapy coverage only, and 35 (6%) had no neonatal therapy team. Having a dedicated therapy team was more likely in level-IV (n = 112; 97%) and -III (n = 269; 83%) NICUs compared with level-II NICUs (n = 51; 42%; p < 0.001). Having a dedicated therapy team was related to having more NICU beds (p < 0.001), being part of a free-standing children's hospital or children's hospital within a hospital (p < 0.001), and being part of an academic medical center or community hospital (p < 0.001). Having a dedicated therapy team was more common in the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West (p = 0.001) but was not related to the proportion of the community living in poverty or belonging to racial/ethnic minorities (p > 0.05). There was an average of 17 beds per neonatal therapy FTE, a good marker of therapy coverage based on NICU size. Three-hundred U.S. based NICUs (22%) had at least one Certified Neonatal Therapist (CNT) in early 2020, with CNT presence being more likely in higher acuity NICUs (59% of level-IV NICUs had at least one CNT).

CONCLUSION

Understanding the composition of neonatal therapy teams at different hospitals across the U.S. can drive change to expand neonatal therapy services aimed at optimizing outcomes of high-risk infants and families.

KEY POINTS

· We estimated that there are 4,232 neonatal therapists working in NICUs in the United States.. · Dedicated therapy teams for the NICU are more common in large, high acuity NICUs.. · An average of 17 beds per neonatal therapy FTE was observed.. · In 2020, 22% of NICUs had CNTs, and CNTs were more common in large and high acuity NICUs.. · Benchmarking neonatal therapy staffing can aid in expanding NICU therapy services where needed..

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices: a global scoping review

BACKGROUND

In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), generating stark economic and social repercussions that directly or indirectly affected families' wellbeing and health status.

AIMS

This review aims at mapping the existing evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices, worldwide, to identify evidence gaps and better inform future delivery of care and health policy measures.

METHODS

Following the protocol defined by PRISMA-ScR, this scoping review has searched for relevant studies published between January 2020 and June 2021, selecting evidence sources based on pre-established criteria. From a total of 2,308 articles, data were extracted from 537 publications from 35 countries on all three health domains.

RESULTS

The combined stressors brought forth by the pandemic have exerted a heavy burden on the mental health of mothers and the development of young children, partly mediated by its impact on parental practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite remaining gaps, we have identified sufficient evidence pointing to an urgent need for more concerted global research efforts and rapid policy responses to timely address severe and pervasive negative impacts to the mental health of mothers and children at a key developmental stage.

Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Breastfeeding Establishment in Preterm Infants: An Exploratory Study

Purpose: To evaluate breastfeeding outcomes in preterm infants born during the Covid-19 pandemic. Design: An observational cohort study of 33 infants born ≤34 weeks' gestation was conducted. Sample: The study sample consisted of 33 infants divided into 2 groups: infants born during the Covid-19 pandemic (Covid group, n = 11) and those born prior to the pandemic (pre-Covid group, n = 22). Main Outcome Variable: Breastfeeding at hospital discharge. Results: Fewer infants in the Covid group received breastfeeds at full oral feed (p = .015) and none breastfeeding at hospital discharge (p = .001). In addition, fewer infants in the Covid group received non nutritive sucking (p = .612) and more infants in the Covid group required milk supplementation (p = .032). Study results suggest that breastfeeding establishment at hospital discharge in preterm infants is significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a critical need, in low-risk disease transmission areas, to enhance parental access and to increase in-hospital lactation supports to help safeguard breastfeeding outcomes in preterm infants.

Parents' experiences regarding neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic: country-specific findings of a multinational survey

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems, challenging neonatal care provision globally. Curtailed visitation policies are known to negatively affect the medical and emotional care of sick, preterm and low birth weight infants, compromising the achievement of the 2030 Development Agenda. Focusing on infant and family-centred developmental care (IFCDC), we explored parents' experiences of the disruptions affecting newborns in need of special or intensive care during the first year of the pandemic.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using an electronic, web-based questionnaire.

SETTING

Multicountry online-survey.

METHODS

Data were collected between August and November 2020 using a pretested online, multilingual questionnaire. The target group consisted of parents of preterm, sick or low birth weight infants born during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and who received special/intensive care. The analysis followed a descriptive quantitative approach.

RESULTS

In total, 1148 participants from 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine) were eligible for analysis. We identified significant country-specific differences, showing that the application of IFCDC is less prone to disruptions in some countries than in others. For example, parental presence was affected: 27% of the total respondents indicated that no one was allowed to be present with the infant receiving special/intensive care. In Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and Sweden, both the mother and the father (in more than 90% of cases) were allowed access to the newborn, whereas participants indicated that no one was allowed to be present in China (52%), Poland (39%), Turkey (49%) and Ukraine (32%).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of IFCDC during the COVID-19 pandemic differs between countries. There is an urgent need to reconsider separation policies and to strengthen the IFCDC approach worldwide to ensure that the 2030 Development Agenda is achieved.

Neonates and COVID-19: state of the art : Neonatal Sepsis series

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a significant impact worldwide, particularly in middle- and low-income countries. While this impact has been well-recognized in certain age groups, the effects, both direct and indirect, on the neonatal population remain largely unknown. There are placental changes associated, though the contributions to maternal and fetal illness have not been fully determined. The rate of premature delivery has increased and SARS-CoV-2 infection is proportionately higher in premature neonates, which appears to be related to premature delivery for maternal reasons rather than an increase in spontaneous preterm labor. There is much room for expansion, including long-term data on outcomes for affected babies. Though uncommon, there has been evidence of adverse events in neonates, including Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C). There are recommendations for reduction of viral transmission to neonates, though more research is required to determine the role of passive immunization of the fetus via maternal vaccination. There is now considerable evidence suggesting that the severe visitation restrictions implemented early in the pandemic have negatively impacted the care of the neonate and the experiences of both parents and healthcare professionals alike. Ongoing collaboration is required to determine the full impact, and guidelines for future management. IMPACT: Comprehensive review of current available evidence related to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neonates, effects on their health, impact on their quality of care and indirect influences on their clinical course, including comparisons with other age groups. Reference to current evidence for maternal experience of infection and how it impacts the fetus and then neonate. Outline of the need for ongoing research, including specific areas in which there are significant gaps in knowledge.