Parental experiences in neonatal intensive care unit in Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Introduction Neonatal intensive care unit is important to save the lives of a sick neonate; however, parents are challenged by several stressful conditions during their stay. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of parents in neonatal intensive care units in Ethiopia. Methods We used a phenomenological study design. The data were collected using an in-depth interview method from purposively selected parents. In addition, we followed a thematic analysis approach and used Open Code Software Version 4.02 to process the data. Results In this study, 18 parents were interviewed. The researchers have identified six themes. Parents complained of psychological problems like anxiety, stress, worries, hopelessness, and a state of confusion. In addition, anger, crying, sadness, frustration, dissatisfaction, regret, disappointment, feeling bad, self-blaming, nervousness, disturbance, and lack of self-control were major emotional problems raised by the parents. Parents expressed that health care providers showed indiscipline, lack of commitment, and uncooperative behaviour. Likewise, shortage of medicines, money, and limited time to visit their neonates were the other concerns of many parents. At the same time, parents were provided minimal information and limited cooperation from health care providers. Conclusion Parents whose infants admitted to the NICU were suffered from various psychological and emotional problems. Researchers recommend that health care providers should be supported parents with psycho-emotional problems, strengthen parents–healthcare workers' interaction, and scale up neonatal intensive care unit services to the primary health care centres. KEY MESSAGES Parents whose infants admitted to the NICU were suffered from psychological and emotional problems. Poor NICU environment, shortage of equipment, long hospital stay, the presence of pandemic COVID-19, and lack of parental involvement in the care were identified barriers that affected parents' stay.

Experience of parents of preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…Os pais vivenciaram momentos de estresse (Mengesha et al, 2022, Erdei et al, 2022, Meesters et al, 2021, problemas emocionais (Holly et al, 2021, Garfield et al, 2021, Bembich et al, 2020, Vance et al, 2021, Mengesha et al, 2022, Adama et al, 2022, Polloni et al, 2021, impactos na amamentação (Garfield et al, 2021, Muniraman et al, 2020 limitação do apoio social após a alta (Galeano et al, 2021), dificuldade de interação com profissionais de saúde (Mengesha et al, 2022), dificuldades de cuidados com o bebê (Adama et al, 2022, Muniraman et al, 2020, Reichert et al, 2022, Polloni et al, 2021, dificuldade em ter contato físico com o bebê (Polloni et al, 2021, Adama et al, 2022 e a interrupção temporária da segunda etapa do Método Canguru (MC) (Reichert 2022). Todos esses preditores prejudicaram o CCF, mas que devem proporcionar uma reflexão acerca da interação e intervenção da família na prática clínica, pois a partir dessas reflexões e princípios, pode-se estabelecer a competência parenteral, bem como, contribuir para que pais e profissionais trabalhem em parceria na unidade neonatal (Corrêa et al, 2015).…”

“…Durante o período de distanciamento social e restrições das visitas, os pais de bebês que estavam hospitalizados na UTIN experimentaram momentos de ansiedade, preocupações, choque, medo, insatisfação, raiva e estresse pós-traumático (Mengesha et al, 2022), advindos tanto das preocupações da hospitalização, como da restrição das visitas e acompanhamento do bebê (Meesters et al, 2021).…”

“…Os pais passaram por muitas condições psicoemocionais estressantes e, estudo aponta que a mediana do nível de estresse relacionado à internação na UTIN foi maior do que o nível de estresse relacionado à Covid-19 (Mengesha et al, 2022). Outro estudo apontou que intervenções de apoio aos pais melhoraram a percepção destes e de profissionais da equipe de saúde sobre o Cuidado Centrado no Paciente e Família e contribuíram para a redução do estresse parental (Balbino et al, 2016).…”

“…A interação dos profissionais de saúde com os pais e com outros profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde faz-se necessária para ampliar os serviços de atenção ao prematuro (Mengesha et al, 2022, Reichert et al, 2022, assim como melhorar o apoio social após a alta do bebê (Galeano et al, 2021).…”

The lived experience of parents' challenges in a neonatal intensive care unit at Dilchora referral hospital, Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

“…HCPs who lack compassionate and respectful care result in parental psychological and emotional problems (27,28). Besides, the separation of the sick baby creates another terror (29), it may be a source of emotional and cognitive burden when communications are inappropriate (17,(30)(31)(32).…”