Magyar, Hannah R.; Metzger, Laura D.; and Schrage, Ariel N., “Systematic Review: The Effects of Nonpharmacological and Pharmacological Measures in Neonates with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome” (2019). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 889. https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/889

Abstract

With the increasing incidence of drug addiction among pregnant women, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has become a significant problem in the United States and has led to increased hospital costs, longer lengths of stay, and more serious health problems in neonates. This systematic review will explore the evidence about outcome differences for neonates with NAS that receive breastfeeding, rooming-in, and acupuncture in addition to pharmacological agents when compared to infants only receiving pharmacological agents. Twenty-one articles, retrieved from the databases PubMed and CINAHL and published between the years 2000-2017, were described in an integrated review, analyzed with critical appraisal, and synthesized for this systematic review. In general, researchers have found that breastfeeding, rooming-in, and acupuncture have positive effects of decreasing the need for pharmacological treatment, NAS symptoms, hospital costs, and length of hospital stay for infants with NAS when used in conjunction with pharmacologic agents.