Analysis of Obstetric Nursing Interventions for Home Monitoring of Neonatal Jaundice

Qingxin Du,1 Xiaoyuan Wu,1 Junying Wang,2 Yuhong Ma,1 Huashu Ma,1 Ruohan Jia3 1Department of Obstetrics, Xingtai People’s Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei, 054001, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Teaching and Research, Xingtai Medical College, Xingtai, Hebei, 054000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xingtai People’s Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei, 054001, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ruohan Jia, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xingtai People’s Hospital, Xingtai, Hebei, 054001, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common conditions in the early postnatal period, and timely identification is essential to prevent complications such as bilirubin encephalopathy and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. With early hospital discharge becoming more common, effective home-based monitoring strategies are urgently needed. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured obstetric nursing intervention in improving early detection of jaundice, reducing the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia and hospital readmission, and enhancing parental confidence and satisfaction through home-based monitoring.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 295 full-term neonates born at Xingtai People’s Hospital between January 2022 and December 2024. Infants were divided into two groups based on postnatal care: the intervention group (n = 125) received structured obstetric nursing interventions, including parental training on jaundice recognition, use of transcutaneous bilirubin meters, scheduled virtual follow-ups, and remote video assessments; the control group (n = 170) received standard discharge instructions without structured follow-up. Primary outcomes were timely jaundice recognition, incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia (≥ 20 mg/dL), and hospital readmission within 7 days. Secondary outcomes included maternal anxiety scores and parental satisfaction.Results: The intervention group had a significantly higher rate of timely jaundice detection (91.2% vs 75.3%, P < 0.001), and a lower incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia (2.4% vs 10.0%, P = 0.011). Readmission within 7 days was also reduced in the intervention group (5.6% vs 14.1%, P = 0.009). Additionally, maternal anxiety on postpartum day 7 was lower (mean STAI score: 32.1 ± 5.0 vs 40.8 ± 6.2, P < 0.001), and parental satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group (P < 0.001).Conclusion: A structured obstetric nursing program for home monitoring of neonatal jaundice can significantly enhance early recognition, reduce the severity and complications of hyperbilirubinemia, and improve parental experience. These findings highlight the value of integrating nursing-led telehealth strategies into routine postnatal care.Keywords: neonatal jaundice, home monitoring, nursing intervention, hyperbilirubinemia, postnatal care, maternal anxiety