Articles

Year 2019, Volume 48, Issue 2

Premature newborn treatment according to Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP)

Gómez-Martínez E, Barreda-Martínez P.

Abstract

Introduction: about 13 million premature births occur annually in the entire world population, with an incidence of 9 to 11 %. The NIDCAP® program was created as a strategy to reduce the negative impact of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit environment on the neurodevelopment of the preterm newborn. Objective: to analyze, according to the bibliography, the recommendations proposed by the NIDCAP® program in relation to the treatment of preterm infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Material and method: a bibliographic search was carried out in the databases Dialnet, Scielo, Pubmed and Science Direct, in addition to two free searches. Results: a total of 51 articles were selected, most of them being randomized controlled trials. India, Iran and Taiwan are the countries most included in the studies. Discussion: some measures are analysed for light and noise control, positioning and minimal manipulation techniques. Strategies for pain reduction are proposed such as the Kangaroo Mother Care. In addition, parents’ participation is recommended, since it is beneficial for the preterm newborn. Conclusions: the NIDCAP® program recommends controlling the environment of the neonatal unit in terms of noise and light, establishing a protocol of minimal handling in the neonate and proper positioning, providing non-pharmacological measures to control pain and promoting skin to skin contact considering the active parents’ participation in preterm infants care

Keywords: premature infant, pain, kangaroo mother care, NICU.