Fisioterapie praktyk in die neonatale intensiewe sorgeenhede en neonatale hoësorgeenhede van die Suid-Afrikaanse staatsdiensektor

English: Introduction: Neonatal physiotherapy forms a vital part of the multi-disciplinary treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neonatal high care unit (NHCU). Neonatal physiotherapy consists of various areas of treatment including respiratory physiotherapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, neurodevelopmental care physiotherapy, and family and/or care-giver support and/or training. This study endeavoured to investigate the current practice in these various areas, as well as determining the role of physiotherapy in the NICU and NHCU. Methodology: This was a quantitative descriptive study. In this study information pertaining to neonatal physiotherapy practice was collected from the physiotherapists working in the public service sector of tertiary and secondary state hospitals with an NICE or NHCU. A questionnaire was used as research method for collecting this information. Results: The response rate of the study was 21.5%. Currently 80.4% of the participants work in an NICU and/or NHCU while 62.5% indicated that they were interested in working there. A total of 68.4% work only on referral from the doctor of who 100% of these treat neonates with respiratory problems, 58.3% with musculoskeletal problems, 66.7% with neurological problems, 41.7% for neurodevelopmental care and family and/or care-giver support and/or training are given. None of the participants use a standardised evaluting form or measure. Of the participants, 82.6% are interested in a post-graduate neonatal physiotherapy training programme, if one should be available. Conclusion: The main objective of this study was to determine the current practice of neonatal physiotherapy as used by all the physiotherapists working in the South African public service sector. The results indicate that the current practice does not quite agree with the literature available on this subject. There is also a need among the physiotherapists for more guidelines and training on this subject and possibly a post-graduate course that specifically focuses on this.