Abstract
Objective Limited data are available regarding family and financial well-being among parents
whose infants were hospitalized during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The
study objective was to evaluate the family and financial well-being of parents whose
infants were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during COVID-19.
Study Design Parents were recruited for this online, cross-sectional survey via support groups
on social media. Data collection was completed between May 18, 2020 and July 31, 2020.
The final sample consisted of 178 parents, who had an infant hospitalized in an NICU
between February 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020. The primary outcomes were impact on family
life and financial stability, as measured by the Impact on Family scale, an instrument
that evaluates changes to family life as a result of infant or childhood illness.
Results Of the 178 parent respondents, 173 (97%) were mothers, 107 (59.4%) were non-Hispanic
White, and 127 (69.5%) of the infants were born prematurely. Parents reported significant
family impact and greater financial difficulty. Extremely premature infants, lower
household income, parent mental health, and lower parental confidence were predictive
of greater impacts on family life.
Conclusion Parents reported significant family and financial impacts during their infant's hospitalization
amid COVID-19. Further studies are needed to guide clinical practice and inform family-supportive
resources that can mitigate consequences to family well-being.
Key Points
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Impact of infant hospitalization in the context of COVID-19 is largely unknown.
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In a cohort of NICU parents during COVID-19, they reported changes to family life
and finances.
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Greater impacts were reported by parents with lower income, confidence, and very premature
infants.
Keywords
neonatal intensive care - COVID-19 - parents - financial well-being
