Grandparents are a key figure in parenting around the world

According to the report, the level of involvement of grandparents in the child-rearing process varies considerably both between EU and non-Western countries. While in Spain their participation is around 35%, in countries such as the United Kingdom or the Netherlands, the figure reaches 60%. On the other hand, in non-Western countries, such as Zambia, grandparents are involved in the parenting process 80% of the time.

With a sample of 411 participants from Zambia and the Netherlands, the study analysed the impact of social, economic and cultural aspects of the countries on the role of grandparents in childcare. As a result of the research, it was found that grandparental involvement is a global phenomenon, in which social variables do not play a relevant role. However, differences were found in the type of tasks that the elderly perform, with entertainment activities such as playing being more common in the Netherlands, and more educational activities such as motor skills training in Zambia.

The lecture, which was warmly received by the university community, raised debates such as western biases and the problem of rapidly changing societies. In turn, Sichimba stressed the importance of considering the role of grandparents as a complementary aspect of children's education, and not necessarily a substitute for parental absence.

Rise in Family

Rise in Family is a European project whose main objective is the implementation of an innovative model of care for families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). High-risk newborns (very low birth weight babies and newborns with severe illnesses) have to spend long periods in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and are still at risk of developing short- and long-term health problems. This causes distress (e.g. anxiety, stress or trauma) for parents of high-risk neonates and stressful situations, including burnout, for NICU clinical staff. To overcome this situation, a Family Integrated Care (FICare) model involving parents as primary caregivers in NICU teams has recently been developed with very promising results.

Rise in Family, a 48-month research project, aims to conduct an implementation study of the FICare model to adapt it to all settings (regardless of country or NICU) and establish it as the new international standard for neonatal and family care. A geographically, socially and culturally diverse consortium of 13 partners from 5 high income (ES, NL, UK, CA and US), 2 middle income (RO and TR) and 1 low income (ZM) countries will scale up and adapt the FICare model for the first time in Europe, Africa and the US. Approximately 2800 infants will be assessed and clinical staff and families of at least 1600 high-risk infants will be trained and educated and enrolled in 7 pilot programmes worldwide (5 in non-FICare NICUs and 2 in FICare NICUs).

Through mixed methods research, the project will evaluate the impact of Rise in Family on infant health (during NICU admission and after discharge), the experience of families and healthcare professionals from a psychological perspective, and socio-economic sustainability. The results of the project will be promoted to engage stakeholders and an appropriate strategy for the exploitation of the results will be developed.