Unreadiness for Postpartum Discharge Following Healthy Term Pregnancy: Impact on Health Care Use and Outcomes

Abstract Objective To document the association between a lack of readiness, termed “unreadiness,” for postpartum discharge and the health of mothers and their term newborns. Methods Prospective observational cohort study of 4300 mother-infant dyads in a national, pediatric, practice-based research n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Academic pediatrics 2013, Vol.13 (1), p.27-39
Main Authors: Bernstein, Henry H., DO, Spino, Cathie, DSc, Lalama, Christina M., MS, Finch, Stacia A., MA, Wasserman, Richard C., MD, MPH, McCormick, Marie C., MD, ScD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Child Health Services - utilization
Cohort Studies
Female
Health Behavior
Health Status
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Maternal Health Services - utilization
Mothers - psychology
Mothers - statistics & numerical data
Multivariate Analysis
Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
newborn
newborn readiness
nursery discharge
Patient Discharge
Pediatrics
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Objective To document the association between a lack of readiness, termed “unreadiness,” for postpartum discharge and the health of mothers and their term newborns. Methods Prospective observational cohort study of 4300 mother-infant dyads in a national, pediatric, practice-based research network. The association between unreadiness for discharge and health care use, health-related behaviors, and health outcomes was analyzed by the use of bivariate, multivariate linear, and logistic models. Results Sixteen percent of mother-infant dyads were unready for discharge. Unreadiness was significantly associated with maternal and infant health care use and health outcomes but not independently associated with health-related behaviors. In multivariable analyses, after we controlled for important covariates and confounders, unready dyads had more calls to health care providers than ready dyads (13.3% increase for mothers, P  = .01; 18.7% increase for infants, P  
ISSN:1876-2859
1876-2867
DOI:10.1016/j.acap.2012.08.005