The role of predischarge mothers’ education on follow-up examination of visual, hearing and brain problems in Preterm neonates

Introduction: Premature infants are at risk of developing hearing loss, blindness and mental retardation. This study was carried to investigate the role of predischarge mothers&rsquo; education on follow up examination of visual, hearing and brain problems in preterm infants. Methods: In a quasi-experimental study, 55 mothers of premature infants were selected by random sampling method and assigned randomly into experimental and interventional groups. A questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics and mother&rsquo;s knowledge about premature infants was completed. Educational program was performed in interventional group. The study subjects were followed for three months after discharge where cases of indications and referrals were recorded. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS software using Chi-Square and Fisher exact tests. Results: Results shows that, in blindness examination, 91.6% of indications in experimental group were follow up, which this rate in control group was 81.8%. In heading examination, follow up rate in experimental and control group were 50% and 3.4%, respectively. In brain sonography, follow up in examination group was 100% but the in control group was 33.3% of indications (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the importance of predischarge mothers' education on the survival of perform infants can not be over looked.