Practices and challenges of family involvement in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Asia: a multinational survey of the Asian neonatal network
2
Issued Date
2026-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
22962360
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105041074646
Journal Title
Frontiers in Pediatrics
Volume
14
Start Page
1
End Page
8
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Frontiers in Pediatrics Vol.14 (2026) , 1-8
Suggested Citation
Lim A.M., Quek B.H., Amin Z., Poon W.B., Cho S.J., Youn Y.A., Chee S.C., Neoh S.H., Prempunpong C., Prempraphan P., Lin M.C., Lin H.Y., Imperial M.L.S., Rohsiswatmo R., Rizalya D., Ozawa Y., Kusuda S., Fuyu M., Isayama T. Practices and challenges of family involvement in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Asia: a multinational survey of the Asian neonatal network. Frontiers in Pediatrics Vol.14 (2026) , 1-8. 8. doi:10.3389/fped.2026.1753007 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/117280
Title
Practices and challenges of family involvement in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Asia: a multinational survey of the Asian neonatal network
Author's Affiliation
National Chung Hsing University
The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine
Singapore General Hospital
National University Hospital
Taylor's University Malaysia
Ewha Womans University School of Medicine
Ramathibodi Hospital
Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine
National Center for Child Health and Development
KK Women's And Children's Hospital
Universitas Indonesia, RSUPN Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo
Vajira Hospital
China Medical University Children's Hospital
Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
Budhi Mulia Mother and Child Hospital
Neonatal Research Network of Japan
The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine
Singapore General Hospital
National University Hospital
Taylor's University Malaysia
Ewha Womans University School of Medicine
Ramathibodi Hospital
Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine
National Center for Child Health and Development
KK Women's And Children's Hospital
Universitas Indonesia, RSUPN Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo
Vajira Hospital
China Medical University Children's Hospital
Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
Budhi Mulia Mother and Child Hospital
Neonatal Research Network of Japan
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objective – This study aimed to explore the role of family involvement in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Southeast and East Asia, focusing on the implementation of family-integrated care, kangaroo mother care, and developmental care practices. The study sought to identify variations in care practices between high-income and low- and middle-income countries and to provide actionable insights for improving neonatal outcomes. Design – A multinational survey was conducted across 336 NICUs in eight Asian neonatal networks (Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) as part of the AsianNeo Network in 2021. The survey, adapted from the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes (iNeo) tool, assessed family-centred care practices, kangaroo mother care, and developmental care. Results – Significant differences were observed between high-income and low- and middle-income countries. High-income countries had better facilities for parental involvement, such as family rooms and extended visitation policies, but were more restrictive in kangaroo mother care duration. Low- and middle-income countries prioritized maternal involvement, with longer kangaroo mother care durations and greater emphasis on breastfeeding support. Developmental care practices, such as cyclical light exposure and noise reduction, were more prevalent in high-income countries. Conclusions – The study highlights the need for context-specific strategies to enhance family-centred care in NICUs. Low- and middle-income countries should invest in infrastructure and training to support family-integrated care and developmental practices, while high-income countries can adopt more flexible kangaroo mother care policies. Collaborative efforts within networks like AsianNeo can facilitate knowledge exchange and improve neonatal care outcomes across diverse resource settings.