Conocimientos y prácticas del personal de salud sobre el neurodesarrollo en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales del Hospital Homero Castanier Crespo. Azogues, 2025-2026

Abstract

Background: In Latin América, newborns admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are exposed to various risk factors such as prematurity, sepsis, and environmental stress, which can negatively affect their neurodevelopment. In this context, neurodevelopment - centered care aims to minimize these effects through health personnel interventions focused on comfort, therapeutic positioning, environmental control, and parental involvement, all of which promote adequate neurological maturation in newborns. Objective: To determine the knowledge and practices of health personnel regarding neurodevelopment care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Homero Castanier Crespo Hospital. Methodology: This quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study employed structured surveys administered to NICU health personnel to assess their knowledge and practices related to neurodevelopment care, as well as sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Most participants were aged 31 to 40 years, and 87,9% were female, with nursing staff representing 57,6 % of the sample. Regarding knowledge, 45,5% demonstrated an intermediate to basic leve, while only 9,1% reported advanced understanding. The implementation of key neurodevelopmental care strategies was limited, with low frequencies observed in actions such as promoting rest, observing signs of stress, and educating parents about neurodevelopment care. Conclusion: Health personnel in the NICU of the Homero Castanier Hospital exhibit predominantly basic to intermediate knowledge and inconsistent practices concerning neurodevelopmental outcomes in hospitalized newborns.