Parent and grandparent neonatal intensive care unit visitation for preterm infants

ObjectiveCharacterize family NICU visitation and examine associations with maternal health and social factors and infant health outcomes.Study designRetrospective cohort study of 167 infants born & LE;32 weeks at two urban NICUs 01/2019-03/2020. Average nurse-documented family member visitation and associations of visitation with maternal and infant factors and outcomes were compared.ResultsMothers visited 4.4 days/week, fathers 2.6 days/week, and grandparents 0.4 days/week. Older maternal age, nulliparity, and non-English primary language were associated with more frequent family visitation. Mothers with depression or anxiety history visited less. Maternal depression and public insurance were associated with fewer father visits. Low parental visitation was associated with lower odds of feeding any maternal milk at discharge and low maternal visitation with 11.5% fewer completed infant subspecialty appointments in the year following discharge (95% CI -20.0%, -3.0%).ConclusionFamilies with social disadvantage visited less often. Parental visitation was associated with infant feeding and follow-up.

Automated summary

This retrospective cohort study found that social disadvantage was associated with lower family visitation rates, which in turn affected infant feeding and follow-up.