Factors Influencing the Attendance of Preterm Infants to Neonatal Follow up And Early Intervention Services Following Discharge from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during First Year of Life in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing the number of times neonatal intensive care unit admitted preterm infants attend Neonatal Follow up and Early Intervention services (NFEI) during first year of life. MATERIALS &METHODS: A parent-report questionnaire was administered via phone after the first birthday of preterm infants admitted to the NICU at Arash Hospital, Tehran, for at least 24 h, and who received standard NICU-based therapeutic services, from Apr 2014 to Feb 2015. Data included mother’s age, education, type of pregnancy, history of abortion or premature birth, self-reported post-partum depression, number of children, infant’s gender, birth weight, gestational age, length of stay in the NICU, living area, twin or triplet birth, number of siblings, and the child rank. Number of attending times to services was recorded. Another question addressed the causes of not attending the NFEI services. RESULTS: Ultimately, 119 eligible children participated, 51% were girls and whose mean birth weight was 1908±626.7 gr, and average length of NICU stay was 20.1±16.9 d. After multivariate analysis, shorter length of stay in the NICU, lower maternal education, number of children, self-declared lack of awareness about early intervention services, and self-reported lack of referral by a physician were the only factors that continued to be significantly correlated, and in fact, the truly influential ones associated with number of attending times. CONCLUSION: This study has defined some predictors of poor follow up and early intervention service utilization in a high-risk group of infants suggested be addressing and tackling by policymakers.