title: Understanding newborn infant readmission: findings of the Ontario Mother and Infant Survey.
abstract: The Ontario Mother and Infant Survey examined health and social service utilization of postpartum women and newborn infants from five hospital sites. A cross-sectional multilanguage survey design with longitudinal follow-up was used: 1,250 eligible, consenting women completed a self-report questionnaire in hospital and 875 women participated in a structured telephone interview at four weeks post-discharge. Rates of newborn infant readmission ranged from 2.4% to 6.7%. The best predictors of readmission were: main source of household income was other than employment; maternal self-rating of health was poor; mother anticipated inadequate help and support at home following discharge; mother received help from friends/neighbours following discharge; and mother had concern about infant care and behaviour. Readmission was not associated with length of postpartum hospital stay. The study findings suggest that there is a complex relationship between infant health care needs, family resources and provider practices that produces clinically important, site-specific readmission patterns.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences 3N25G, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5. sword@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Sword
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kyong
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gafni
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009313:National Health Programs; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review