Feasibility of Caregiver-Involvement in the Clinical Monitoring of Newborns and Young Infants
C Jensen1*, P Appalsamy2, L Coetzee3,R Davidge4,5, S Duba6, N Govender2, N Naidoo2, T Ngqandu2, S Seppings3,
P Seonandan7,8 and N H McKerrow4,8,9
1 Health Systems Strengthening Unit, Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa
2 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa
3 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa
4 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa
5 The Neonatal Nursing Association of Southern Africa.
6 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Ladysmith Provincial Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa
7 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Edendale Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa
8 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
9 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
*Corresponding Author: C Jensen, Health Systems Strengthening Unit, Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa.
Received: April 13, 2022 Published: May 16, 2022
Abstract
Background: Neonatal and infant deaths contribute substantially to under-5 mortality in South Africa, with inadequate monitoring and delayed response to signs of illness remaining important modifiable factors.
Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and use of a Family Monitoring booklet among caregivers and healthcare workers and assess the impact on caregivers’ confidence and knowledge levels.
Methods: A mixed methods descriptive study was undertaken in four KwaZulu-Natal hospitals. Participants included mothers of well preterm babies in Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units, post-Caesarean section mothers and healthcare workers. Data collection encompassed caregiver knowledge questionnaires, audits of the completed Family Monitoring tools, caregiver focus groups and healthcare worker questionnaires. The descriptive and thematic analysis was completed in Microsoft Excel.
Results: Overall, 262 mothers were recruited: 109 in the KMC group and 153 in the postnatal group. The reported acceptability of Family Monitoring was good, with completion rates of 92.2% among mothers and 66.7% among healthcare workers. The mean caregiver knowledge score was 78.0% pre-exposure with a mean percentage increase of 4.3% (p<0.001). Major themes included initial anxiety, ease of use, increased maternal confidence and knowledge and the importance of explanation and peer support for its use.
Conclusions: Implementing the Family Monitoring tool was acceptable to mothers and healthcare workers at four KwaZulu-Natal hospitals, with modest but significant increases in the mother’s knowledge scores and high completion rates among mothers. Further evaluations of family-centred care interventions are needed in South Africa.
Keywords: Neonatal, infant, mortality, observation, monitoring, family-centred care, maternal, caregiver, capacitation.
Citation: Jensen C, Appalsamy P, Coetzee L, Davidge R, Duba S, Govender N, Naidoo N, Ngqandu T, Seppings S, Seonandan P, McKerrow NH. “Feasibility of Caregiver-Involvement in the Clinical Monitoring of Newborns and Young Infants”. SVOA Paediatrics 2022, 1:3, 73-82.