Do we support parents of high-risk infants? A survey.

The establishment of regional neonatal intensive care units has reduced physical and mental handicaps in premature infants, but has caused emotional and psychological strain on parents because of frequently lengthy separation of mother and child. The study was undertaken to learn what is currently being done to support parents of high-risk infants. A questionnaire survey showed that prenatal screening was performed by only a few institutions. Not all nurseries employed full-time social workers. Such full-time status was no guarantee that all parents were interviewed and given support. Furthermore, requests for public health nurses to make predischarge and postdischarge home visits were not universally made.