Research from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) has been selected as an Editor's Choice article by the international journal Children.
The systematic review, Key Components of Parenting Education Interventions for Preterm Infant–Parent Dyads Admitted to the NICU, was chosen by the editorial office of the journal for its quality and topical importance after attracting more than 1 770 views and its first citations within months of publication. Children (MDPI) is a Q1 journal, currently ranked 39th of 190 titles in Paediatrics, with an impact factor of 2,6.
The study was led by Prof. Welma Lubbe of the NuMIQ research focus area, with Prof. Iolanthé Marike (Lanthé) Kruger of the AUTHeR research unit and Prof. Kirsten A Donald of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital at the University of Cape Town (UCT). The study formed the first phase of a suite of studies conducted by Prof. Lubbe as part of a second PhD in Paediatrics (Neuroscience) from UCT.
Having a baby admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit is one of the most disorienting experiences a parent can face. The team screened more than 1 000 records and synthesised 33 high-quality studies to establish what effective parent education in the NICU actually comprises. They found that programmes consistently cover practical ground – discharge preparation, feeding and infant care, alongside understanding a baby's health and behaviour – but that emotional, relational and confidence-building support for parents is inconsistently built in, despite clear evidence of its importance.
The review also highlights how heavily this evidence base leans on high-income settings in different countries, making a strong case for contextually grounded programmes designed for other low- and middle-income neonatal units in South Africa.
Future work in this field aims to ensure that educational programmes for the NICU environment first address the neurostatic load in parents, in other words, calming the nervous system, before engaging in educational activities.
Read the full open-access article: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/13/2/280
Research led by Prof. Welma Lubbe (NuMIQ) has been selected as an Editor's Choice Article by the international journal Children.
