Mendizabal-Espinosa, Rosa; Skriczka, Kristyna; Ko, Jessica; Joymungul-Khan, Sherena; (2024) Infant and family centred developmental care in neonatal intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic: interactive gap map of global evidence. Presented at: 10th SCENE Symposium, Uppsala, Sweden.

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Abstract

Objectives: We explore how infant and family centred developmental care (IFCDC) practices were adapted or affected in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals around the world, and whether new approaches to communicate/engage with families developed as a result. / Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review of primary empirical studies sourced from a Living Map of COVID-19 maintained by the UCL EPPI Centre. A supplement search was conducted on three medical databases CINAHL, PubMed and EMBASE. Key IFCDC search terms were developed alongside a steering group of stakeholders, which was established to ensure that the methods were fit-for-purpose, and the findings are relevant. Studies were included if they reported IFCDC outcomes of sick or preterm infants in NICUs and if data collection took place during the Covid-19 pandemic. / Results: We present an evidence gap map of 36 studies exploring NICU practices related to: family support, family access to baby, support for bonding with parents and siblings, supportive sensory environment, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and breastmilk feeding, support for transition from hospital to home and follow up care in the community, institutional guidelines for small and sick newborn care, use of digital devices to support IFCDC. / Conclusions: Evidence on COVID-adaptive IFCDC practices exists for the Global North, showcasing different levels of support for infants and families and describing how existing digital technology was used to enhance communication between parents and medical professionals. Less is known about what IFCDC practices existed, and how these were affected, in the Global South during the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing evidence needs to be assessed and made widely available to support IFCDC practices now and in future crises.

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