Impact of very low birth weight infants on the family at 3 months corrected age

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 31 - 35
• Main Authors: Balakrishnan, Asha, Stephens, Bonnie E., Burke, Robert T., Yatchmink, Yvette, Alksninis, Barbara L., Tucker, Richard, Cavanaugh, Ellen, Collins, Amy Marchand, Vohr, Betty R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.01.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Biological and medical sciences; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Family - psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Impact on family; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - psychology; Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine; Prematurity; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Very low birth weight; IOF; VLBW; FRS; Very low birth weight; FSS; PVL; NICU; Impact on family; NEC; Prematurity; CLD; IVH; CA; Family Resource Scale; very low birth weight; corrected age; chronic lung disease; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Impact on Family; Family Support Scale; necrotizing enterocolitis; periventricular leukomalacia; intraventricular hemorrhage; Human; Very low birthweight; Premature; Newborn diseases; Pregnancy disorders; Infant; Age
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.09.374

Very low birth weight infants (VLBW, <1500 g) have increased impact on families compared to term infants. However, there is limited research examining this impact in the first months post-discharge. To determine maternal, neonatal, and infant characteristics associated with greater impact on the family at 3 months corrected age in VLBW infants. It was hypothesized that social/environmental and medical risk factors would be associated with higher impact. Maternal, neonatal, and infant data were collected prospectively. Parents completed the Impact on Family, Family Support, and Family Resource Scales. Associations between characteristics and impact scores were analyzed by t-test and Pearson's correlation. Regression models for each impact score identified significant risk factors for impact. 152 VLBW infants born February 28, 2007 to September 5, 2008 who had a follow-up evaluation at 3 months corrected age. Impact on family. Siblings in the home, neonatal medical risk factors, longer hospitalization, more days on ventilator or oxygen, lower gestational age, lower social support, and poorer family resources were associated with increased impact. Multivariate analyses identified siblings in the home, poorer family resources, lower gestational age, and oxygen requirement at 3 months as the most important predictors of impact. Social/environmental and medical risk factors contribute to impact on family. Families with identified risk factors should receive support services to assist them in coping with the burden of caring for a VLBW infant.