The hospitalisation of a premature and/or sick infant can be a particularly distressing experience for parents. However, despite these variations, the problem of prematurity is not confined to low income countries, with USA and Brazil being in the top 10 countries with the highest rates of premature births. While the numbers of term infants who require hospitalisation are not generally reported, there are disparities in the rates of premature birth across different countries, with the highest rates of prematurity occurring in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Globally approximately 1 in 10 babies (~15 million) are born premature (37 weeks gestational age) but who are sick often require admission to a neonatal unit for appropriate medical support. to improve training, supervision and support of peer supporters) recommendations to underpin the operationalisation and delivery of PS provision. to help embed peer support in practice) and micro (e.g. to facilitate management and leadership support), meso (e.g.
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Despite challenges, promising strategies were reported across the different services to inform macro (e.g. Findings highlight variations in the types of peer support provided, training and development opportunities, supervisory and mentoring arrangements and the methods of recruitment and support for peer supporters with these differences largely related to the size, funding, multidisciplinary involvement, and level of integration of peer support within healthcare pathways and contexts. We integrated survey and interview findings into five themes: ‘background and infrastructure of peer support services', ‘timing, location and nature of peer support’, ‘recruitment and suitability of peer supporters’, ‘training provision’ and ‘professional and emotional support’.
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Thirty-one managers/coordinators/trainers and 77 peer supporters completed the survey from 48 peer support organisations/services in 16 different countries with 26 interviews undertaken with 27 survey respondents. Descriptive and thematic analysis was undertaken. Survey/interview questions explored the funding, types of peer support and the recruitment, training and support for peer supporters. A mixed-methods study comprising an online survey was issued to peer support services/organisations, and follow-up interviews held with a purposive sample of survey respondents. We aimed to bridge these knowledge gaps via an international study into neonatal peer support provision.
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Despite its widespread use, there are no comprehensive insights into the nature and types of neonatal-related peer support, or the training and support offered to peer supporters. Peer support is a widely used intervention that offers information and emotional support to parents during their infant’s admission to the neonatal unit and/or post-discharge.