Experiences of mothers with premature babies admitted in neonatal intensive care unit at Princess Marina hospital Gaborone, Botswana.
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Date
2025
Authors
Mpofu, Pepechua
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Preterm birth is a major concern contributing significantly to the world's neonatal mortality. It is stressful and associated with many emotional crisis among mothers of preterm babies. This study explored the experiences of mothers with premature babies admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) in Gaborone, Botswana. The study utilised Qualitative phenomenological descriptive design. Twelve mothers of premature babies were purposively sampled. In-depth interview guide was used to collect data on mothers of preterm babies aged 20-40 years. Audio recorded in-depth interviews were transcribed verbatim, those in Setswana were translated to English. Data was analysed inductively using Braun and Clarke thematic analysis, with the aid of Nvivo` 15 software for codes generation, which were organised into subthemes and themes manually. The study uncovered an intricate journey noticeable by the interchange periods of sadness, disappointment, excitement, fear and anxiety of
losing their babies with paucity in emotional and psychological support, inadequate rest and lack of information. Mothers yearned for bonding and interaction with their babies. Misinformation about the baby`s demise and baby swapping compounded their difficult journey. Despite these challenges, mothers of premature babies remained optimistic about their babies, showing the resilience amidst the complexities of prematurity. Mothers expressed divided opinions on their interaction with the NICU staff, variability in hospital care and support and perceived the need for increased resources in NICU. The findings underscores the necessity for a comprehensive interventions to overcome the physical, emotional, psychological and social burdens experienced by mothers of preterm babies, ensuring mothers are informed, quality health care and aid in reducing the neonatal morbidities and mortalities in NICU. Recommendations include review of the NICU guidelines for all mothers of premature babies admitted to NICU to be routinely referred to a psychologist. Integration of holistic approach to address the needs of mothers, babies and their families. Implementation of in service training programs of NICU staff to enhance the provision of educational and emotional support to mothers.Prioritisation and mobilisation of resources in NICU.
Keywords: Mothers of premature babies, experiences, Neonatal intensive care Unit, perceptions.
Description
Thesis of Master of Science in Neonatal Nursing.