Various local and international neonatal nursing organisations have identified the dire need for a comprehensive administrative database reflecting the true status of neonatal intensive care practice in South Africa. This would enable neonatal interest groups to give input into policy-making; implement, monitor, and evaluate policies; identify particular needs to be addressed by quality improvement initiatives or projects; and to promote international benchmarking. The overall aim of this study was to determine the content of an administrative neonatal database instrument to enhance delivery of the highest quality nursing care to ill and highrisk neonates nationwide. The specific research objectives of this study were to describe and refine the content of such an instrument. This was achieved by using two consensus research methods, the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and the Delphi method. For the NGT session representatives of organisations such as NNASA, SANITSA, SANC and The National Department of Health as well as trained neonatal nurses from both public and private sector hospitals were invited. Five participants attended the NGT session. An electronic format of the Delphi method, the e-Delphi, was used and included the participants from the NGT as well as additional unit managers, paediatricians and neonatologists. By the end of the third round of the e-Delphi method, six participants had fully participated. Through both phases data collection and analysis took place simultaneously. Based on the analysis, a draft instrument for data collection was compiled. This instrument will in the near future be piloted on a larger scale. / Dissertation (MCur)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Nursing Science / MCur / Unrestricted

Les infections néonatales tardives (INT, survenant après 3 jours de vie) sont fréquentes et sont associées à une mortalité et une morbidité importantes chez les nouveau-nés prématurés. Dans ce contexte, il a été récemment décrit un clone de Staphylococcus capitis, appelé NRCS-A, impliqué spécifiquement dans ces INT dans différents services de réanimation néonatale (RN) à travers la France, et présentant un profil multirésistant atypique chez cette espèce, incluant notamment une sensibilité diminuée à la vancomycine, qui est pourtant l'antibiotique de première ligne en cas de suspicion d'INT. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons démontré la distribution endémique du clone NRCS-A dans au moins 17 pays à travers le monde, spécifiquement dans les services de RN. De plus des données épidémiologiques issues des services de RN français ont identifié une prévalence élevée du clone dans certains services, illustrant sa capacité à s'implanter puis à persister dans ces services. Une caractérisation génétique du clone NRCS-A a été réalisée afin de mettre en évidence d'éventuels facteurs génétiques pouvant favoriser son implantation dans les services de RN. Cette analyse a démontré le rôle des éléments génétiques mobiles dans l'émergence du phénotype multirésistant du clone NRCS-A. En revanche aucun gène de virulence spécifique du clone n'a pu être mis en évidence. L'analyse des gènes spécifiques du clone a toutefois permis d'identifier le gène nsr codant pour la résistance à la nisine, bactériocine active sur de nombreuses bactéries à Gram positif et sécrétée par les bactéries de la flore commensale digestive. Ce gène pourrait donc conférer un avantage sélectif au clone NRCS-A pour s'implanter dans le microbiote des nouveau-nés prématurés. La persistance du clone dans les services de RN évoque la présence de réservoirs inertes ou humains au sein de ces services. Grâce à la mise au point d'une technique d'identification de S. capitis par gélose chromogénique sélective, nous avons pu démontrer la diffusion et la persistance de S. capitis dans un service de RN, sans toutefois identifier un réservoir unique responsable de cette colonisation. Nous avons également observé une inefficacité partielle des mesures de décontamination. Il n'existe en revanche pas de portage chronique chez le personnel soignant, ni de colonisation vaginale chez les femmes enceintes. Par ailleurs, nous avons pu mettre en évidence par repiquages successifs in vitro une capacité particulière du clone NRCS-A à acquérir de façon rapide et stable une résistance à la vancomycine sous pression de sélection par cet antibiotique. Cette capacité constitue un avantage sélectif majeur pour ce clone et pourrait avoir favorisé son implantation et sa persistance dans les services de RN où la pression de sélection par la vancomycine est élevée. Pour compléter ces résultats, une étude de cohorte prospective menée en RN a permis de démontrer que l'administration de vancomycine constituait un facteur de risque indépendant de survenue d'INT à S. capitis. Au-delà de la problématique spécifique des INT à S. capitis en RN, nos travaux illustrent plus largement un des enjeux majeurs de santé publique qui est l'impact écologique potentiel de l'utilisation des antibiothérapies probabilistes à large spectre sur l'émergence et la sélection de bactéries multirésistantes impliquées secondairement dans des infections nosocomiales. Ces travaux ouvrent de nouveaux axes de recherche concernant d'une part la meilleure compréhension de la physiopathologie des INT à S. capitis, et d'autre part plus largement les modalités de prévention des INT en RN et d'amélioration du diagnostic précoce des INT / Pas de résumé en anglais

The field of early detection and intervention of hearing loss in neonates and infants has been marked by a growing international body of research investigating hearing screening programmes, protocols and outcomes of early detection for hearing loss. In South Africa, screening for neonates and infants in general and particularly for hearing loss is not common practice and is not meeting the needs of the South African population, with very few infants identified with hearing loss early in life. The Year 2002 Hearing Screening Position Statement recommends an intermediate step toward universal screening in the form of Targeted Newborn Hearing Screening (TNHS) as an option for developing countries with limited resources. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides a starting point for TNHS because it encompasses a number of risk factors for hearing loss. A combined descriptive and exploratory research methodology was followed to provide a comprehensive perspective on longitudinal hearing screening for NICU neonates and infants at a provincial hospital in South Africa. The quantitative methods included a structured interview to compile risk factor information. Immittance measurements used included acoustic reflex measurements, 226 Hz and 1000 Hz tympanometry. Automated Otoacoustic Emission (AOAE) as well as Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) screening was conducted. Routine follow-up visits at three month intervals were booked if a subject passed the screen and a follow-up screening for further testing was booked if a subject referred the screening. A total of 49 neonates and infants as well as mothers were enrolled in the first year and followed up for the second year of data collection period. The results indicated that the NICU had potential as platform for TNHS in South Africa. The high incidence of risk factors reported is more when compared with developed countries and highlights the importance of hearing screening in the at risk population for a developing country. The results confirmed reports that 226 Hz probe tone tympanometry produces erroneous responses in young infants. A high correspondence between high frequency tympanometry and AOAE results was found and underlines the need for differential diagnosis to accurately detect middle ear effusion and/or sensorineural hearing loss in neonates and infants. The unilateral AOAE refer rate (7%) was within range of the reported values for initial screening at discharge from the NICU. AABR results indicated a relatively high unilateral refer result (24%) and may be attributed to irritability and restlessness. The highest referral rates in the current study were recorded during the second and third visit and may be attributed to the presence of middle-ear pathology in older infants. The perceptions of mothers emphasized the lack of awareness regarding hearing and hearing loss in South Africa. Lack of knowledge may be a contributing actor to poor compliance with screening follow-up. Despite prevailing challenges, such as a low follow-up return rate, lack of awareness regarding the benefits of early detection of hearing loss, the effect of middle ear effusion on screening results, the cost of hearing screening and different priorities of the national healthcare system, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus, demonstrated the NICU promise as platform for TNHS in South Africa. TNHS programmes may serve as starting point to direct universal neonatal hearing screening programmes in South Africa. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MComm Path / unrestricted

A lack of information is identified on the ability of professional nurses working in a neonatal intensive care unit to make competent clinical decisions pertaining to the employment of bedside blood product filters during neonatal transfusion. In addition, a lack of complete guidelines existed to aid professional nurses in instances where they are faced with such a decision. A descriptive survey was conducted to determine and describe the knowledge professional nurses working in neonatal intensive care unit have regarding the employment of bedside blood product filters during the transfusion of a neonate with blood or blood products, as well as their ability to make competent clinical decisions in the regard. A questionnaire was designed, which was validated by experts in neonatal intensive care nursing and blood transfusion. The questionnaires were distributed to 10 nominated public and private hospitals with neonatal intensive care units in Gauteng, South Africa, for completion. Participants were self-nominated; they participated in the study of their own free will. Neither the participants’ nor the hospitals’ names were revealed at any stage. Numbers were used to identify the questionnaires. 120 questionnaires were completed and were analysed using descriptive statistics. In the following step, the results obtained from the questionnaires together with literature were used to recommend guidelines for neonatal transfusion utilisation by professional nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. The recommended guidelines were divided into two categories: General guidelines and Specific blood products guidelines. Validity and reliability was enhanced by using staff from ten neonatal intensive care units from the private and public health care sector in Gauteng, South Africa; obtaining a sufficient sample size (n=120); involvement of experts in the field of neonatal nursing science and blood transfusion, as well as a statistician from the University of Pretoria; and verification of results with literature. Ethical principles were adhered to: confidentiality was maintained as no names of any of the hospitals or the participants were disclosed. All information regarding the study was provided to the relevant parties and the participants voluntarily signed an informed consent form. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the selected hospitals’ management. Approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria. There were no known risks involved in the study. Recommendations were made for more research on the same topic to be conducted and their outcomes be compared to the results yielded by this study and research to be conducted to related topics. The findings of this study were meant to improve the clinical practice of nursing in neonatal intensive care units. It was therefore recommended that these guidelines be implemented by neonatal intensive care units, training institutions and the South African Blood Transfusion Services. AFRIKAANS : Die navorser het ’n intensiewe oorsig van die bestaande literatuur rakende die kliniese besluitneming van professionele verpleegkundiges in neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede gedoen. Dit het duidelik uit dié navorsingsoorsig geblyk dat daar baie min gedoen is om die vermoëns vas te stel van professionele verpleegkundiges wat in die neonatale intensiewe sorgeenheid werk met betrekking tot kliniese besluitneming wat die aanwending van bloedprodukfilters tydens neonatale transfusie betref. Aanvullend het die oorsig onthul dat daar geen volledige riglyne bestaan, of voorsien word, vir professionele verpleegkundiges in gevalle waar hul met so ’n besluit gekonfronteer word. Die studie is in twee fases gedoen. In Fase een is ’n vraelys ontwerp gebaseer op konsepte en temas uit die literatuur geїdentifiseer, waarna dit gevalideer is deur kundiges. Die vraelyste is uitgegee aan 10 genomineerde privaat- en publieke hospitale met neonatale inesiewe sorgeenhede in Gauteng vir voltooiing. Die voltooide vraelyste is gesorteer en geanaliseer. Deelnemers is self-genomineerd; die navorser het hulle toegelaat om self te besluit of hulle wou deelneem aan die studie of nie. Deelnemers en hospitale se name is op geen stadium bekend gemaak nie. Nommers is gebruik om die vraelyste te identifiseer. In Fase twee is die uitslae van die vraelyste gebruik om riglyne te ontwerp om gebruik te word in neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede deur professionele verpleegkundiges vir neonatale transfusie. Riglyne vir neonatale transfusie is geformuleer volgens die uitkoms van die vraelyste in kombinasie sowel as die oorsig van die reeds bestaande literatuur deur middel van induktiewe en deduktiewe beredenering. Aangesien professionele verpleegkundiges kennis moet dra van algemene riglyne om spesifieke riglyne te kan toepas, is die riglyne in twee kategorieë verdeel: Algemene riglyne en Spesifieke bloedprodukte riglyne. Deur hierdie studie in twee verskillende omgewings, naamlik privaat- en publieke instansies te doen, en 10 eenhede van een area (Gauteng) in Suid- Afrika daarby te betrek, sowel as om ’n relatief groot steekproef te gebruik, is die oordraagbaarheid van die uitkoms van die studie na ander streke verhoog. Die navorser het aanbeveel dat verdere studies oor dieselfde onderwerp gedoen word, en die uitkomste daarvan vergelyk word met die resultaat van hierdie studie. Die uitkoms die studie sal dan meer oordraagbaar wees na ander streke in Suid-Afrika. Die uitgebreide literatuuroorsig, die betrokkenheid van kundiges en die navorser se eie ondervinding en kennis in die neonatale intensiewe sorgverpleegkunde, het bygedra tot die vertrouenswaardigheid van die studie. Kundiges op die gebied van neonatale verpleegkunde en bloedtransfusie was betrokke, sowel as ’n biostatistikus verbonde aan die Universiteit van Pretoria. Etiese beginsels is gevolg. Die navorser was nie bewus van, en is ook nie gekonfronteer met enige etiese dilemmas of probleme tydens die studie nie. Konfidensialiteit is deurgaans gehandhaaf in die studie deurdat geen name van die deelnemers of hospitale genoem is nie. Alle inligting met betrekking tot die studie is aan die relevante partye verstrek en die deelnemers het almal uit eie vrye wil ’n ingeligte toestemmingsvorm onderteken. Toestemming om die studie te doen is ook verkry van die genomineerde hospitale se bestuur. Toestemming om die studie te doen is verkry van die Etiese Komittee van die Fakulteit van Gesondheidswetenskappe, Universiteit van Pretoria. Daar was geen risiko’s betrokke aan die studie nie, slegs voordele, aangesien die doel van die studie was om die professionele verpleegkundiges in die neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede behulpsaam te wees met besluitneming rakende die gebruik van bloedprodukfilters tydens transfusie van bloed of bloedprodukte aan ’n neonaat. Die bevindings van die studie is bedoel om die kliniese praktyk van verpleging in neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede te verbeter. Gevolglik word ’n aanbeveling gemaak dat hierdie riglyne geïmplimenteer word in neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede, opleidingsinstansies sowel as die Suid-Afrikaanse Bloedoortappingsdiens. / Dissertation (MCur)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Nursing Science / unrestricted

Bakgrund: I Sverige föds omkring 7000 prematura barn varje år. Föräldrars närvaro och delaktighet är viktig för att de ska lära känna sitt barn och ta på sig rollen som barnets primära vårdare, men även för barnets välbefinnande och trygghet.  Syfte: Beskriva barnsjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att göra föräldrar delaktiga i omvårdnaden av sitt prematurfödda barn på neonatalavdelning.  Metod: Studien genomfördes på en neonatalavdelning i södra Sverige. Totalt deltog 12 barnsjuksköterskor. Intervjuerna analyserades utifrån en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats.  Resultat: När föräldrarna träffade samma personal byggdes en relation mellan föräldrar och barnsjuksköterska vilket främjade föräldrarnas delaktighet. Det var viktigt att låta föräldrarna sköta omvårdnaden men att barnsjuksköterskan fanns vid sidan om som stöd. Genom information och förberedelse hade föräldrarna bättre förutsättningar till delaktighet. Barnets tillstånd, vårdmiljön och familjesituation menade barnsjuksköterskan kunde påverka huruvida föräldrarna ville eller kunde vara delaktiga i omvårdnaden. Genom delaktighet främjades anknytningen genom att föräldrarollen stärktes och föräldrarna lärde känna sitt barn.  Slutsats: Barnsjuksköterskan har en viktig roll där hon bör sträva att få med sig föräldrarna i omvårdnaden så att deras delaktighet ökar. Vikten av att föräldrar är delaktiga grundar sig i att stärka anknytningen vilket har stor betydelse för barnets välbefinnande. / Background: Every year 7000 children are born premature in Sweden. Parents presence and participation is important to get to know their child and to take the role as the primary caregivers, but also for the child’s well-being and safety.   Aim: The aim of the study was to describe paediatric nurses’ experiences of involving parents in the care of their preterm child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Method: The study took place at a NICU in southern Sweden. Interviews were carried out with 12 paediatric nurses. The analysis was made using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.    Results: When parents met the same paediatric nurse a relationship was built which promoted parent participation. It was important to have the parents take care of the nursing but the pediatric nurse was on the side as support. Through information and preparation, the parents had better conditions for participation. The paediatric nurse meant that the child's condition, care environment and family situation nurse could influence whether the parents wanted or could be involved in the care. Through participation, the bonding was promoted by strengthening the parent role and the parents getting to know their child.  Conclusion: The paediatric nurse has an important role and should strive to increase parents participation in their child’s care. The importance of parent participation is because it promotes bonding which is important for the child’s well-being.

Bakgrund: Neonatalvård behövs om barnet är fött för tidigt eller sjukt vid födseln och kan vara både en kortvarig vistelse på några timmar men ibland upp till flera månader. Efter utskrivning stödjer Barnhälsovård(BHV)-sjuksköterskorna föräldrarna genom ett tätt samarbete och följer barnets utvecklingsresa.  Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva BHV-sjuksköterskans erfarenheter av att vårda föräldrar vars barn varit inneliggande på en neonatalavdelning. Metod:  Elva intervjuer genomfördes med BHV-sjuksköterskor i sydöstra Sverige. Intervjuerna var semistrukturerade och innehöll öppna frågor. En kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt Graneheim och Lundman gjordes med induktiv ansats på manifest nivå.  Resultat: Resultatet presenterades i två kategorier: Ge tid att växa in i föräldrarollen och Arbeta för att stärka föräldrarollen. BHV-sjuksköterskorna erfor att föräldrarna genomgick en övergång mellan att barnet var  övervakat på neonatalavdelningen till att klara sig hemma själva. BHV-sjuksköterskorna stärkte föräldrarna genom att tidigt knyta kontakt med dem, erbjuda extra stöd och normalisera vardagen.  Slutsats:  BHV-sjuksköterskans erfarenhet var att övergången mellan neonatalvård till hemmet och BHV kan vara svår för föräldrarna, och det är viktigt att BHV-sjuksköterskan stöttar föräldrarna att bli trygga i sin vardag. / Background: Neonatal care is needed if the child is born prematurely or is sick at the time of birth. The child can be in need of care for a couple of hours up till several months. After discharge from the hospital, the Child Health Care (CHC)-nurses evaluate the child’s development regularly and provide support to the parents.  Aim: The aim was to describe the CHC-nurse’s experiences of caring for parents whose child has been admitted to neonatal care. Method: Eleven interviews were conducted with CHC-nurses in the southeast of Sweden. A qualitative content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman was performed and had an inductive approach.  Results: The result were presented in two categories: Giving time to grow into the parenting role and The work of strengthening the parenting role. The experience of the CHC-nurse was that the transition from neonatal care to home life could be strenuous for the parents and the child health nurses strengthened the parents by making early contact, providing extra support and normalizing everyday life. Conclusion: The experience of the CHC-nurse was that the transition between neonatal care to the home life can be difficult for the parents, and it is important that the CHC-nurse supports the parents to become safe in their everyday life.

Thesis(M. A. (Nursing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / BACKGROUND The quality Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) continues to be sub-standard as it is not managed properly, despite the maternal and neonatal services provided by the midwives during postpartum and neonatal period, as this can lead to increased neonatal mortality rate and maternal depression at selected hospitals of Limpopo Province, therefore the researcher is interested in developing strategies to enhance quality KMC at selected hospitals of Limpopo Province. KMC has been found to have physiological, behavioural, psychosocial and cognitive developmental benefits, and it enhances motherinfant bonding. The aim of the study was to develop strategies to enhance quality Kangaroo Mother Care in selected hospitals of Limpopo Province. RESEARCH METHOD A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research method was used to collect numerical data with regard to the factors that hinders the quality Kangaroo Mother Care in selected hospitals of Limpopo Province. Population size was 77, Simple Random Probability Sampling was used in this study with the sample size of 65 midwives. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Quantitative analysis is the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomenon reflected on observations (Babbie & Roberts, 2018). RESULTS The study revealed that the factors that hinders quality of Kangaroo Mother Care are lack of education and training to midwives regarding Kangaroo Mother Care, and other sources suggested that all categories of nurses should also be trained. The midwives are knowledgeable with regard to KMC, however, the problem remains the work overload when they have to monitor both the mother and neonate during feeding. It was further indicated that family members can also assist with regard to KMC. Strategies were developed, as optimal KMC environment, optimal KMC interventions, enhance optimal mother attitude to KMC crate gender sensitive environment. CONCLUSION The study concluded that the quality of KMC should be enhanced through both the promotion of education and training to all midwives, and involvement of families to assist in KMC at selected hospitals of Limpopo Province

Background: The prevalence of opioid use disorder has increased across the United States, but the rural population of Appalachia has been disproportionately impacted. Concurrently, the slow, but steady progress in the legalization of marijuana may be affecting perception of marijuana use in pregnancy. However, marijuana use in pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Concomitant use of opioids and marijuana in pregnancy has not been evaluated. Objective: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the association between confirmed marijuana use in late pregnancy and preterm birth in opioid-exposed pregnancies. Methodology: A retrospective chart review was conducted that included all births from July 2011 to June 2016 from 6 delivery hospitals in South-Central Appalachia. Out of 18,732 births, 2368 singleton pregnancies indicated opioid use and met remaining inclusion criteria, with 108 of these mothers testing positive for marijuana at delivery. Independent sample t-test and Chi-Square analyses compared marijuana and non-marijuana exposed groups on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Regression analyses controlled for confounding variables in predicting neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), NICU admission, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and low birth weight outcomes as shown in Table 1. Results: Neonates born to marijuana-positive women in opioid-exposed pregnancy were more likely to be born preterm, small for gestational age, have low birth weight, and be admitted to NICU. After statistically controlling for parity, marital status, tobacco and benzodiazepine use, preterm birth and low birth weight remained statistically significant with aOR of 2.35 (1.30–4.24) and 2.01 (1.18–3.44), respectively. Conclusions: Maternal use of marijuana in any opioid-exposed pregnancy may increase risk of preterm birth and low-birth weight infants. Prospective studies need to examine the dose and timing of marijuana and opioid use in pregnancy to better delineate perinatal effects. Nonetheless, pregnant women using opioids, including recommended medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, should be educated about the risks of concurrent marijuana use during pregnancy and may need to be counseled to abstain from marijuana use during pregnancy for an optimal outcome.

This survey research explores neonatal intensive care unit speech-language pathologists’ perceptions of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome; specifically, how NAS affects infants’ feeding skills, along with structural and oral-motor characteristics. The findings of this research will contribute to this population’s information base. The results are expected to inform the field and current evidence-based practice care for infants with NAS.Learner Outcome(s): Explain Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Describe infants with NAS and how NAS affects the infants’ feeding skills from the perspective of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) Identify how SLPs in the NICU participate in intervention for infants with NAS and their families

[pt] Diversas drogas administradas em neonatos possuem excipientes alcoólicos como etanol, álcool benzílico e propilenoglicol, que são potencialmente perigosos para o desenvolvimento do recém-nascido, principalmente se apresentarem fatores agravantes como prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascer. Foram selecionados estudos que utilizaram drogas com excipientes alcoólicos em neonatos em serviço hospitalar brasileiro. A lista de medicamentos contendo excipientes alcoólicos foi extraída da regulamentação da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). Foram coletados dados relacionados à dose do medicamento, período de administração, número de recém-nascidos expostos, hospital responsável pela pesquisa e se esses bebês são a termo ou pré-termo. / [en] Several drugs administered to neonates have alcoholic excipients such as ethanol, benzyl alcohol and propylene glycol, which are potentially dangerous for the development of the newborn, especially if they present aggravating factors such as prematurity and low birth weight. Studies that used drugs with alcoholic excipients in neonates in the brazilian health system were selected. The list of drugs containing alcoholic excipients was extracted from the regulations of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). Data related to the drug dose, period of administration, number of newborns exposed, hospital responsible for the research and whether these babies are term or preterm were collected.