Parental Stress and Family-Centred Care Among Mothers of Preterm Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A...

After the admission of an infant to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a dramatic impact occurs on the planned normal maternal process, leading to a sudden change in maternal expectations. Mothers are under great stress and early detection of such stress is essential to provide family-centred care.

This study aims to determine family-centred care and parental stress in mothers of premature infants in NICU and examine associated factors.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in two NICUs between September 2022 to December 2023. Data were collected face-to-face using an Information Form, the NICU-Parental Stressor Scale (PSS:NICU), and the Family-Centered Care Scale in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (FCCS-NICU). Data were analysed using independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis using IBM SPSS v.22.

In total, 110 mothers participated. Parental stress was greater among mothers with primary school education (η² = 0.056, p = 0.047) and among those whose infants were required orogastric/nasogastric feeding (η² = 0.079, p = 0.012). Mothers who had high income (t = -2.336; p = 0.021) and who had a caesarean section (t = -2.652; p = 0.009) had higher FCCS-NICU scores. The linear regression model established to examine variables affecting the FCCS-NICU score is statistically significant (R² = 0.132; p = 0.008). It was determined that when birth weight (p = 0.011) and postnatal day increases (p = 0.035), the FCCS-NICU score decreases. Mothers with good income (p = 0.022) and who delivered by caesarean section (p = 0.033) had higher FCCS-NICU scores.

The findings suggest that low educational level and orogastric/nasogastric feeding increase maternal stress, while family-centred care increases with good income levels, low birth weight, shorter postnatal days and caesarean section. Informing the mother, supporting the participation of the family in care and mother-infant communication as soon as possible and providing oral nutrition support reduce stress levels and increase participation in family-centred care.

It will facilitate the implementation of family-centred care by determining the parental stress of mothers in the NICU and its relationship with family-centred care. In particular, by revealing some characteristics of mothers and infants, it will contribute to the establishment of family-centred care in the NICU.