Perceptions and Practices of Parents in Caring for their Hospitalized Preterm Infants

Authors

  • Photjanart Sarapat RN, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Warunee Fongkaew RN, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Usanee Jintrawet RN, PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Jutarat Mesukko RN, PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Lynne Ray RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Canada

Keywords:

Descriptive qualitative study, Hospitalized preterm infant, Parents, Parental involvement, Premature infants, Thailand

Abstract

                  Hospitalized preterm infants are separated from parents in many countries, including Thailand, neonatal care has promoted parental involvement in caring for their infants to support breastfeeding and parent-infant bonding. This descriptive qualitative approach aimed to gain a better understanding of Thai parental involvement in caring for hospitalized preterm infants. Purposive sampling was used to select 22 parents, two grandmothers, and three nurses at a sick newborn unit of a regional hospital in Eastern Thailand. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation and clinical document reviews, from September 2014 to October 2015. The data were analyzed by using a thematic analysis.
                The findings revealed parents’ perceptions and caregiving practices regarding their involvement in caring for hospitalized preterm infants that could be categorized into five categories, 1) uncertainty about their child’s condition, 2) desire to be close to their preterm babies, 3) lack of confidence in providing care for their preterm babies, 4) overcoming difficulties in breastfeeding, and 5) socio-cultural factors influencing parental involvement. Parental involvement in caring for hospitalized preterm infants is crucial to the quality of infant care. The findings of this study could assist in evidence for developing a nursing intervention program to enhance and support parental involvement in caring for preterm infants.

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Published

2017-07-10

How to Cite

1.
Sarapat P, Fongkaew W, Jintrawet U, Mesukko J, Ray L. Perceptions and Practices of Parents in Caring for their Hospitalized Preterm Infants. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2017 Jul. 10 [cited 2024 Dec. 19];21(3):220-33. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/78177

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