Information support concerning care of a baby provided for lying-in women during their stay in maternity ward in rooming-in system

Grochans E, Czajka R, Ćwiek D

The aim of the study was to estimate the need for information support concerned with care of a baby and evaluation of lying-in women expectations referred to sources of support, methods and devices used during presentation. 
The research included 200 lying-in women hospitalized in Clinic of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin; there were separated the study group which consisted of primiparas (n=100) and reference group – multiparas (n=100). The applied method was medical history of a patient, and a research tool was author’s questionnaire.
The results show that primiparas noticeably more often than multiparas need information support related to care of umbilical stump (p<0.001), bathing (p<0.001), care of skin and mucous membranes (p<0.001), management of regurgitation, management of colic (p<0.001), signs of neonatal transient states, and checking for concern-raising signs (p<0.001). 
Lying-in women much more often indicate a nurse/midwife and a doctor working in maternity ward as a source of information support, and considerably more often expect information to be provided in the form of training and chatty lecture with the use of brochures.
Conclusions:
1. Primiparas require greater involvement of health professionals in providing information support and especially giving information on baby care. 
2. A nurse/midwife and a doctor are these people in maternity ward who are particularly expected to provide information support for both primiparas and multiparas.
3. Different methods (training, chatty lecture) may be applied when information support is provided and the choice should correspond with patients’ needs, goals and organizational possibilities. 
4. Lying-in women expect various devices used for providing information support, but in most cases they are brochures with information on particular topics.