Family integrated care: new perspectives for neonatal care

Abstract

Over the years, the highly technological environment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) has allowed the survival of increasingly more premature and sick newborn infants. In parallel, physical distancing increased between hospitalized infants and their families, culminating with parents having restricted access to their children, limited to few daily hours of contact and interaction. However, this separation can negatively influence the recovery and development of the newborns and infants who remain hospitalized for extended periods of time. It is currently known that parents play a critical role in promoting positive health outcomes during hospitalization and after hospital discharge of these newborn infants.