Comparative Effectiveness of Home-Based and Health Facility Nursing Interventions in Newborn Physical Assessment: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Newborns are physically assessed by medical specialists as soon as they are delivered. This includes a thorough evaluation of the baby's weight, Apgar score, and breastfeeding beginning. The purpose of this study was to compare the health outcomes of women and their infants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq using postnatal nursing interventions at home vs in medical facilities.
 
150 postpartum women who had given birth at the Maternity Hospital in Rania City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, participated in this quasi-experimental study. Participants were divided into three groups at random: one control group (n = 50) and two intervention groups (n = 50 getting postpartum care at home and another at a medical facility). The researcher performed assessments within 24 hours after the baby's birth and three follow-up visits over a period of six weeks. The two intervention groups received the necessary interventions in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations. Data analysis was done using chi-square, frequency, and percentage tests.
 
There were notable variations between the groups in the postpartum treatment with physical examination of neonates monitored for six weeks following delivery. Compared to the facility and control groups, the experimental home group had far greater rates of starting breastfeeding right away. Compared to the facility (4%) and control (15%) groups, the home visit group had the lowest rate of impossible breastfeeding (0%). Over the course of six weeks following delivery, the home group's maternal satisfaction with postpartum care was considerably higher than that of the facility and control groups (χ² = 17.411, df = 2, p = 0.000). Compared to both experimental groups, the control group displayed fewer postnatal nursing interventions.
 
The results of the study show that home visits significantly improve postpartum care. Particularly in less developed nations, postpartum care at home might be beneficial for enhancing the physical evaluation and treatment of babies. As a result, home visit nursing therapies for infants can be confidently used to improve postpartum outcomes and maternal health.