A quasi-experimental study was performed to investigate the effects of a home visiting discharge education program on the maternal self-esteem, attachment, postpartum depression and family function in 35 mothers of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants.

Twenty-three mothers in the intervention group received the home visiting discharge education while 12 mothers in the control group received the routine, hospital discharge education. Baseline data was collected in both groups one day after delivery. The intervention group received the home visiting discharge education while the control group did the routine hospital-based discharge education. The questionnaire including the data on maternal self-esteem, attachment, postpartum depression and family function were collected within 1week after the discharge by mail.

The scores of maternal self-esteem, and attachment were significantly increased, and the postpartum depression and the family function score were decreased after the home visiting discharge education in intervention group. There were no changes in these variables before and after the routine hospital-based discharge education in control group.

These results support the beneficial effects of home visiting discharge education on the maternal role adaptation and family function of the mothers of NICU infants.

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of asystemic follow-up care program on health promotion and risk reduction in 64 high-risk infants(HRI) including premature infants and their mothers.

The intervention consisted of systemic NICU education, tele-counseling and 3 home visits in 6 months. The subjects were divided into either the intervention group or the control group receiving the conventional education without the tele-counseling and home visiting. Infant health promotion was measured using physical assessment, types of health problems, reflexes, OPD visiting history, DDST, immunization, feeding assessment, Infant death rate, etc. Maternal self-esteem, postpartum depression and family function were measured using the maternal self-report inventory(MRI), EPDS, and family apgar score(Fapgar), retrospectively.

All premature infants in the intervention group were in the normal range of growth and development, and the regular vaccination schedule. The health problems in the intervention group were addressed early so not to develop into adverse effects. The follow-up program for 6 months showed beneficial effects on MRI, EPDS, and Fapgar.

A systemic follow-up health care program is beneficial on health promotion and risk reduction in 64 HRI including premature infants and their mothers.