To explore the impact of family single room practices in NICU on maternal anxiety and breastfeeding status and neuropsychological development in preterm infants.

One-hundred NICU-born preterm infants were divided into the experimental group (n= 48) and the control group (n=52) according to random number table. Neonates in the experimental group were guaranteed parental care in the family ward for at least 4 hours a day during hospitalization in NICU, while the control group used a traditional video-based approach for daily scheduled visits. Finally, the results of exclusive breastfeeding, nosocomial infection, maternal anxiety, parental satisfaction, and full-term NBNA score after correction of gestational age were collected and recorded.

The rates of exclusive breastfeeding were 82.50% (33/40) ,42.50% (17/40) during hospitalization and six months old in the experimental group, and 17.07% (7/41) ,12.20% (5/41) in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant during hospitalization and at 6 months of age (χ²=32.25, 9.40, P <0.01). The score of maternal anxiety was 33.00 (31.00, 41.75) in the experimental group, and 43.00 (34.50, 46.00) in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (Z=-2.97, P=0.003).The NBNA score in the experimental group was 38.50 (38.00, 40.00) , and 37.00 (36.00, 39.00) in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (Z=-2.86, P <0.01) .

The development of family ward is conducive to raising the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, reducing the incidence of nosocomial infection, relieving the anxiety of mother-infant separation and enhancing the satisfaction of parents, which can promote the behavioral and neuropsychological development of preterm infants.

Infants; Pre-term infants; Single family room; Breastfeeding; NBNA score