Very low birth weight infants and their families during the first year of life: comparisons of psychosocial outcomes based on after-care services.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate psychosocial outcomes in families of very low birth weight infants during the first year postdischarge.


METHODS
This was a prospective investigation of family functioning in families of 81 very low birth weight infants discharged from two tertiary care neonatal intensive care units in Los Angeles, CA. Infants were assigned to four groups receiving a variety of after-care services in their homes. Analyses of variance and t-tests were used to examine differences in outcomes, including parental involvement with infant, maternal depression, and family adaptation and cohesion over time.


RESULTS
During the first year following discharge, there were no differences between after-care groups in levels of maternal depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale or family cohesion and adaptability as measured by the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales II. Significant between-group differences were seen on measures of home environment at both 6 and 12 months and self-reports of satisfaction with parenting at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study indicate that types of after-care services do not change basic maternal or family characteristics. However, long-term home-visiting services appear to impact the way mothers interact with their high-risk infants. Furthermore, such services seem to influence a mother's perception of satisfaction with her role.
Finello
K M
KM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Litton
K M
KM
deLemos
R
R
Chan
L S
LS
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies