The social context of neonatal pain.

ABSTRACT

Neonatal pain and neonatal pain management occurs in a social context and is influenced by this context. Changes in the practice of pain management have clearly occurred over the last 20 years. Changes have occurred because of the confluence of scientific research and lobbying, primarily by parents. Although the standard of care for neonatal pain has risen dramatically in the past 20 years, much remains to be done. Procedure pain appears to be a continuing issue, and pain in the cognitively handicapped neonate has not been addressed. Research on the social context of pain is almost entirely lacking.