[Survey on follow-up of new born babies after the discharge from the birth centres of the Ligurian public hospitals].

INTRODUCTION: Continuity of care in the postpartum period is strongly recommended by international guidelines. Several studies demonstrate how an individualized follow-up program may decrease newborn's mortality and morbidity and prevent or early identify chronic diseases or diseases with long-term effects for mother, newborn and family. In Italy the lastest recommendations on postnatal care of mothers and newborns have been relea- sed in 2000.

AIM: To describe the organization of healthy term newborns post-discharge follow-up in the 10 birth centers of Ligurian public hospitals.

METHODS: Descriptive study, conducted in 2015 through telephonic interview with head nurses (or their delegates) of the centers.

RESULTS: All 10 birth centers participated in the study recommend a follow-up visit, but only half have a formalized procedure for follow-up. Most of them recommend the first follow-up visit within 2-3 days from discharge. Half of centers provide the first follow-up visit at the birth center's clinic, three don't recommend follow-up visits after the first one. None of them links the follow-up visit of the newborn with the mother's one; usually the needs of mother and newborn are identified and met by pediatric nurses, nurses and neonatologist. All the centers provide a telephone number for post-discharge needs. Two centers make calls to mothers considered to be at risk of postpartum depression.

DISCUSSION: The study describes different newborn care pathways related to follow-up after discharge in the Ligurian birth centers. At the moment there is no homogeneous implementation of the interventions recommended at national level.