Zero Separation. Together for Better Care! is a global research initiative exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic affected infant and family-centered developmental care (IFCDC) in neonatal units. Led by GFCNI (formerly EFCNI) and GLANCE, the project captured the voices of over 2,100 parents from 56 countries who experienced disruptions in care during this critical time. The study reveals significant challenges related to parental presence, mental health, and infant nutrition. It advocates for a zero separation policy and the consistent application of IFCDC, even in times of crisis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems worldwide implemented strict safety measures to reduce the spread of the virus. While many restrictions were necessary, they also had unintended consequences - particularly for families with preterm, sick, or low birth weight newborns. Separation policies often excluded parents from their infant’s care, impacting bonding, breastfeeding, mental health, and emotional well-being. The global lack of consistent policies regarding family involvement highlighted the urgent need to evaluate the impact of these measures and advocate for solutions grounded in developmental care best practices.
The primary aim of the project was to document and understand parents’ experiences of IFCDC disruptions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were to:
Assess the extent to which separation policies were implemented in neonatal units globally
Explore the impact of restrictions on prenatal care, parental access, breastfeeding, health communication, and mental health
Identify country-specific differences in care practices
As a direct outcome of the project, GLANCE (now GFCNI) launched the Zero Separation awareness campaign. The campaign supports parents of hospitalized newborns and healthcare professionals in enabling infant and family-centered developmental care—allowing parents to be present 24/7.
Initial Focus: The campaign began by raising awareness about the impact of COVID-19 separation policies.
2023 Theme: Focused on Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a practice strongly recommended by WHO for preterm and low-birth-weight infants.
GFCNI now proudly continues this vital campaign following the conclusion of GLANCE.
This project was a collaborative initiative between GFCNI (formerly EFCNI) and GLANCE (Global Alliance for Newborn Care). It was conducted in partnership with the COVID-19 Zero Separation Collaborative Group, bringing together:
National parent organizations from around the world, who ensured the study remained rooted in real-life family experiences
These partners provided expertise, supported multilingual outreach, and contributed to raising awareness of the consequences of separation policies in neonatal care.
As co-initiator and lead coordinator of the project, GFCNI (formerly EFCNI) played a central role in conceptualizing, organizing, and executing the global survey. Working alongside GLANCE and expert partners, GFCNI oversaw the development and distribution of the questionnaire, data analysis, report writing, and dissemination of results. The Foundation also organized the digital launch event, engaged the media, and facilitated multilingual access by coordinating the translation of the survey into 23 languages. As an advocate for infant and family-centered developmental care, GFCNI ensured that parents’ voices were at the heart of this research.
This project was carried out with full editorial independence and scientific integrity. We sincerely thank the national patient and parent organizations, healthcare professionals, and partner societies who contributed their time, knowledge, and support to this important initiative.
An earmarked donation from Novartis Pharma AG supported the implementation of the study. However, all content produced - including survey design, data interpretation, and published materials - was developed independently and free from third-party influence.
GFCNI is the first global organization and network to unite patients, families, healthcare professionals,
medical staff, and scientists from different disciplines, fields,
and countries – all with the joint goal of advancing the health and quality of care for newborns and their families across the globe.
GFCNI is a non-profit organization established under German public law. Tax Reference Number: 143/235/22619
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