Abstract
Early term infants (ETI), with gestational ages from 37 to 38 weeks, have higher morbidity and mortality rates when compared with later term infant counterparts born at 39 to 41 weeks. Although this newly identified term infant subcategory is gaining attention, the immediate and long term health outcomes and care needs of ETI remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this research project was to examine the current research documenting ETI health and explore care practices that are currently utilized to promote ETI health. The original research study describes care practices used to promote health for ETIs born in Louisiana in 2004 and examines their care in the early postpartum period. The Conceptual Model for Late Preterm Infant Care was used as the framework to examine care. The research design was retrospective descriptive and care experiences were examined through secondary data analysis utilizing Louisiana's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (LaPRAMS) questionnaire for 2004.
Date of publication
Spring 5-7-2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/84
Recommended Citation
Craighead, Debra, "Early Term Infant Care: Hospital Utilization and Breastfeeding Practices" (2012). Nursing Theses and Dissertations. Paper 34.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/84