Objective: To evaluate neonatal developmental care and family-centered care in a neonatal unit.
Methods: Participatory action research with a purposive sample of health personnel and parents of hospitalized newborn in a Neonatal Unit in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Five focal groups were conducted with seven mothers and 40 professionals of the unit team, and additionally, 24 non-participant observations were conducted about neonatal developmental care and family-centered care. Three strategies for promotion were implemented for both approaches and subsequently, results were evaluated in terms of practices that take place during neonatal care, after the intervention. A quantitative analysis with descriptive statistics and a qualitative content analysis were done to process the data. Three strategies were implemented: continuing education for professionals, allocation of materials for the positioning of the babies and an informative video for the parents about how the unit operates.
Results: The focus groups and the initial observation showed the necessity to enhance knowledge and practices of the personnel regarding neonatal developmental care and family-centered care.
Conclusion: The promotion of neonatal developmental care and family-centered care generated positive changes in care practices of the professionals in the neonatal unit, through the use of education strategies, communication and the provision of positioning materials.