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Midwife‐to‐newborn ratio and neonatal outcome in healthy term infants
Author(s) -
Dani Carlo,
Papini Sofia,
Iannuzzi Laura,
Pratesi Simone
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.15180
Subject(s) - medicine , breastfeeding , obstetrics and gynaecology , pediatrics , neonatal intensive care unit , obstetrics , neonatology , university hospital , pregnancy , emergency medicine , genetics , biology
Abstract Aim To assess the effect of midwife‐to‐infant ratio on healthy term infant outcome. Methods Infants were enrolled in an inhospital midwife‐led centre and an obstetrician‐led centre with different midwife‐to‐infant ratios (1:2.5‐1:5 vs 1:7‐1:15). The primary endpoint was exclusive breastfeeding rate; secondary endpoints were neonatal admission in neonatal care unit rate and length of hospital stay. Results One hundred and ten infants were enrolled in both midwife‐ and obstetrician‐led centre. Exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge was higher (88% vs 78%, P = .048) in infants born in the midwife‐ than in the obstetrician‐led centre. Admission rate in neonatal care units (9% vs 2%, P = .017) and stay in hospital duration (3.1 ± 1.8 vs 2.6 ± 0.8 days, P = .008) were higher in the obstetrician‐ than in the midwife‐led centre. Birth in the midwife‐led centre increased the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding (OR: 2.04, 1.07‐3.92), while newborns’ admission in neonatal care units decreased it (OR : 0.17, 0.07‐0.43). Conclusion Healthy term infants’ neonatal outcome is negatively associated with a low midwife‐to‐infant ratio which decreases exclusive breastfeeding rate and is associated with a higher likelihood of admission in neonatal care units and longer stay in hospital.