Oral care in care of the premature infant after discharge

Joint Event on 4^th World Congress on Nursing Education & Research & Annual Congress on Child Care: Mental Health, Psychology & Nursing

April 12-13, 2019 | Toronto, Canada

Yu Jin Jung

Kosin University Gospel Hospital,South Korea

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Background: Preterm infants have an increased risk of developing dental problems. These include enamel hypoplasia with increased risk for tooth malalignment, dental caries, delayed tooth eruption, tooth discoloration. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of premature infantâ??s oral care after discharge.

Method: The patients who were born less than 37weeks of age and hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Kosin University Hospital from August 2017 to December 2017. This study was retrospectively analyzed 51 preterm infants and 75 parents (45 mothers and 30 fathers) who had medical records of oral care status for their babies at the first visit to the outpatient department after discharge. And oral care was compared with the rate of hand washing performed in health care in premature infant at home. Hand washing of parents was checked before feeding and before and after changing diapers.

Results: 96% (76 persons) of parents who washed their hands before feeding to babies, 71% and 83% of parents who washed their hands before and after diaper rubbing were respectively. 60% (45 persons) of parents who had oral care for premature infants had a lower rate than those who washed their hands. There was no statistically significant difference in characteristics of premature infants such as gestational age and birth weight between the presence or absence of oral care after discharge.

Conclusions: The rate of oral care for premature infants after discharge is relatively low and it seems that oral care education will be needed at discharge.

Biography :

I have completed my PhD at the age of 37 years from Sungkyunkwan University and postdoctoral studies from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine. I am the director of NICU in Kosin University Gospel Hospital. I have published more than 25 papers in reputed journals.

E-mail: hasaohjung@hanmail.net