Record Details

A life uncertain – My baby’s vulnerability: Mothers’ lived experience of connection with their preterm infants in a Botswana neonatal intensive care unit

Curationis

 
 
Field Value
 
Title A life uncertain – My baby’s vulnerability: Mothers’ lived experience of connection with their preterm infants in a Botswana neonatal intensive care unit
 
Creator Ncube, Rosinah K. Barlow, Hilary Mayers, Pat M.
 
Subject Nursing; Midwifery Lived experience; mothers; care; preterm infant; neonatal unit
Description Background: Preterm and low–birth weight infants are often separated from their mothers when admitted to neonatal units for stabilisation of body temperature and technological support. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of mothers regarding care of their hospitalised preterm infants in a neonatal unit in a public hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. Method: This study utilised a qualitative exploratory and descriptive phenomenological study design. Mothers of hospitalised preterm infants were purposefully selected, with whom there was extensive engagement. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant (P). Results: Mothers were shocked by the sudden birth of a preterm infant and found the neonatal environment intimidating. This increased their fear and anxiety and delayed development of a relationship with their infants. Support from staff, other mothers in the neonatal unit and family members enabled the mothers to overcome their fear and to develop an emotional connection with their infants. Conclusion: On-going supportive communication with the mothers by healthcare professionals promotes their confidence and competence in caring for their preterm infants, which in turn promotes mother–infant attachment.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2016-08-30
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Qualitative; phenomenological approach
Format text/html application/octet-stream text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/curationis.v39i1.1575
 
Source Curationis; Vol 39, No 1 (2016); 9 pages 2223-6279 0379-8577
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1575/2028 https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1575/2030 https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1575/2029 https://curationis.org.za/index.php/curationis/article/view/1575/2021
 
Coverage Botswana — Female; mothers of preterm infants
Rights Copyright (c) 2016 Rosinah K. Ncube, Hilary Barlow, Pat M. Mayers https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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