Clinical trials

This study is a multi-center, prospective pre-post clinical study conducted under the leadership of the Turkish Neonatal Society. It aims to investigate the effects of a standardized skin-to-skin care in NICU, initiated early and applied regularly, on recieving exclusive mothers' milk at discharge and clinical outcomes for preterm infants born ≤ 32 weeks of gestation. 1. Primary Objective: To evaluate the rate of receiving exclusive mothers' milk at discharge for infants born ≤ 32 weeks of gestation who have received skin-to-skin care in accordance with the study protocol. 2. Secondary Objective: To evaluate the rates of neonatal sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis (stage 2 and above) as well as the length of hospital stay for infants born at or below 32 weeks of gestation who have received skin-to-skin care in accordance with the study protocol.

The study includes preterm infants who are being screened for ROP between August 1,2023 and August 1, 2024 in 94 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Turkey. Infants with birth weight (BW) of \>1500 g or ≥ 33 weeks' gestation who are screened for retinopathy of prematurity are included. The incidence of any ROP, severe ROP and treatment modalities will be determined. The risk factors for ROP development will also be evaluated.