Abstract
Background and Objectives: Premature newborn birth is related to hospitalization of newborn and separation from family. Not paying attention to emotional and psychological stresses of parents of such child causes inadequate attachment with their newborn at the time of discharge and will increase vulnerability of child and parents. This study is done due to lack of enough research in this field in our country.
Material and Methods: A descriptive study with the population consisted of all mothers (n=300) with hospitalized premature newborn in NICU, in 3 teaching hospitals in Tabriz (Taleghani, Alzahra, Koodakan) during the first 6 months in year 2007. Data collected by PSS questionnaire (Parent Stressor Scale) developed by Margaret Miles & Funk 1998.
Results: From NICU Environmental Stressors: "the presence of monitors and equipments" 64.3%, " presenting another infant having a machine breath(respirator) in the room" 38.3%, " the constant noises of monitors and equipments" 23%, and also from Baby Looks, Behaves and Special Treatments: "unusual or abnormal breathing patterns in child" 70.3%, "tubes and equipments on or near the child (for example: ventilator,…)"67% and "suddenly change of newborn skin color (for example, pale or blue) 49.3%, "seeing needles on the child’s body "44.7% ," small size of child" 41.7% and "weak appearance of child" 31.7%, and also from Parental Relationship and Parent's Role: "being separated from child" 60.3%, "feeling inability of helping child during hospitalization" 51.7% and "feeling inability of protecting child from pain and painful procedures" 44.3% were respectively major stresses of the mothers. Also, from these three aspects of stressors, "Parental Relationship and Parent's Role" was the most stressful dimension.
Conclusion: Due to inevitability of hospitalization of premature newborn in NICU, It is suggested that after premature birth, parents especially mothers should be prepared for first NICU face with their child, and making appropriate communication with newborn and NICU environment and paying more attention in playing a good parents role consider as the bases of family centered services.