Candace Campbell
University of San Francisco, USA
Title: The World’s Stage Welcomes Our New Tiniest Minority Group: Micropremature Babies
Biography
Biography: Candace Campbell
Abstract
According to the WHO, statistics from 2015 show that approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely (before 37 completed weeks) each year (nearly 1 in 10 births). Complications from premature birth are the leading cause of death among children < 5 years of age, worldwide. Across 184 countries, the premature birth rate varies from 5-18% and appears to be rising. The variation of preemie survival rate is surpassed only by the sequelae of medical and developmental problems that persist in one segment of the premature population, the micropremature infant (born 24-28 weeks).
This qualitative study asked the question: How does the birth of an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) baby impact the family unit? It began with 30 families of micropremature babies and lasted five years. Six of the families originally interviewed agreed to share their thoughts on camera and were re-interviewed after three years.
Dr. Campbell unfolds her story of the challenges of qualitative research and shares the answer to the question that most NICU nurses want to know: What happens when these babies go home? Furthermore, the research begs the question: What are we doing to help families of micropremature babies cope?