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


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
152 VLBW infants born February 28, 2007 to September 5, 2008 who had a follow-up evaluation at 3 months corrected age.


METHODS
Impact on family.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Balakrishnan
Asha
A
Department of Pediatrics, Women and Infants Hospital Providence, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, USA.
Stephens
Bonnie E
BE
Burke
Robert T
RT
Yatchmink
Yvette
Y
Alksninis
Barbara L
BL
Tucker
Richard
R
Cavanaugh
Ellen
E
Collins
Amy Marchand
AM
Vohr
Betty R
BR
D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires