The effect of a comprehensive prematurity prevention program on the number of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

The null hypothesis of this study was that a prematurity prevention program that uses computerized prenatal risk assessment, educational interventions administered on a weekly basis by telephone, enhanced nutritional support, and referral to a perinatologist whenever necessary will result in no difference in the number of neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A retrospective cohort study was designed to compare the number of admissions to the NICU for the 12 months before initiation of the prematurity prevention program with those during the first 12 months of the full working program. Compared with the year before program initiation, the prematurity prevention program resulted in a 56% reduction in the number of NICU admissions, a 49% reduction in preterm deliveries with subsequent admission of the infant to the NICU, and a 59% reduction in NICU hospital days. In addition, there was a 38% reduction in preterm deliveries caused solely by preterm labor. The null hypothesis is rejected because a comprehensive prematurity prevention program resulted in a significant reduction in NICU admissions, preterm deliveries with admission to the NICU, and NICU hospital days.