Effect of a Home Visit Educational Program on Mortality and Morbidity of Preterm Newborn

Preterm birth (<37weeks) leads to such adverse perinatal outcomes as neonatal and infant mortality and different diseases. Home-based newborn visit interventions can prevent newborn deaths among high-risk newborns. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an educational program of home visit on mortality and morbidity of preterm newborns. This is an experimental study conducted on preterm newborns with fetal age of less than 37 weeks. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of case (30 neonates) and control (30 neonates). Home visit was presented to case group for a period of 6 months after discharging from hospital. Control group received hospital routine cares and referred for visiting. Both groups were followed for a period of 6 months during 2009-2010. Collected data were analyzed using χ² and independent T test. The mortality rate during the first six months of life was not significantly different between two groups (P>0.05). However, the number of subjects needed hospitalization or outpatient visit during first six months of life was significantly lower in case group than control group (P<0.05). The results of this study indicated that carrying out educational program of home visit by health care givers results in reducing number of inpatient cases of neonates during first six months of life. Therefore, it is suggested to appoint home visit as a part of health programs so as to reduce neonate's hospitalization cases and thereby to improve their health.