[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.