Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study
Abstract Introduction Mothers’ participation in the care of their sick newborns in Newborn Care Units (NCUs) has been linked to several advantages including earlier discharge, fewer complications, better mother–baby bonding, and an easier transition to home after discharge. This study aimed to under...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01649-1 |
| _version_ | 1827895116175507456 |
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| author | Phillip Wanduru Claudia Hanson Peter Waiswa Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige Helle Molsted Alvesson |
| author_facet | Phillip Wanduru Claudia Hanson Peter Waiswa Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige Helle Molsted Alvesson |
| author_sort | Phillip Wanduru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Mothers’ participation in the care of their sick newborns in Newborn Care Units (NCUs) has been linked to several advantages including earlier discharge, fewer complications, better mother–baby bonding, and an easier transition to home after discharge. This study aimed to understand mothers’ perceptions and experiences while participating in the care of their sick newborns in the NCUs to inform interventions promoting mothers’ participation in public health facilities in Uganda. Methods We conducted an exploratory qualitative study comprised of 18 in-depth interviews with mothers caring for their newborns in two NCUs at a Regional Referral and General hospital in Eastern Uganda between April and May 2022. The interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed. For analysis, we used a thematic analysis approach. Results The fear of losing their baby was an overarching theme that underlay mothers’ perceptions, actions, and experiences in the NCU. Mothers’ confidence in the care provided to their babies was based on their baby’s outcomes. For example, when mothers saw almost immediate improvement after treatment, they felt more confident in the care than when this was not the case. Furthermore, mothers considered it essential that health care providers responded quickly in an emergency. Moreover, they expressed concerns about a lack of control over their personal space in the crowded NCU. Additionally, caring for babies in these settings is physically and financially taxing, with mothers requiring the combined efforts of family members to help them cope. Conclusion This study shows that for mothers of sick newborns in the NCU, the baby’s survival is the first concern and the basis of mothers’ confidence in the quality of care provided. Efforts to improve parental participation in NCUs must focus on lowering the costs incurred by families in caring for a baby in the NCU, addressing privacy and space concerns, leveraging the family’s role, and avoiding compromising the quality of care in the process of participation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:16:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-846a1bb604dd47a9bcf002d8e9770ccf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-4755 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:16:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-846a1bb604dd47a9bcf002d8e9770ccf2023-07-23T11:16:11ZengBMCReproductive Health1742-47552023-07-0120111010.1186/s12978-023-01649-1Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative studyPhillip Wanduru0Claudia Hanson1Peter Waiswa2Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige3Helle Molsted Alvesson4Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere UniversityDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska InstitutetAbstract Introduction Mothers’ participation in the care of their sick newborns in Newborn Care Units (NCUs) has been linked to several advantages including earlier discharge, fewer complications, better mother–baby bonding, and an easier transition to home after discharge. This study aimed to understand mothers’ perceptions and experiences while participating in the care of their sick newborns in the NCUs to inform interventions promoting mothers’ participation in public health facilities in Uganda. Methods We conducted an exploratory qualitative study comprised of 18 in-depth interviews with mothers caring for their newborns in two NCUs at a Regional Referral and General hospital in Eastern Uganda between April and May 2022. The interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed. For analysis, we used a thematic analysis approach. Results The fear of losing their baby was an overarching theme that underlay mothers’ perceptions, actions, and experiences in the NCU. Mothers’ confidence in the care provided to their babies was based on their baby’s outcomes. For example, when mothers saw almost immediate improvement after treatment, they felt more confident in the care than when this was not the case. Furthermore, mothers considered it essential that health care providers responded quickly in an emergency. Moreover, they expressed concerns about a lack of control over their personal space in the crowded NCU. Additionally, caring for babies in these settings is physically and financially taxing, with mothers requiring the combined efforts of family members to help them cope. Conclusion This study shows that for mothers of sick newborns in the NCU, the baby’s survival is the first concern and the basis of mothers’ confidence in the quality of care provided. Efforts to improve parental participation in NCUs must focus on lowering the costs incurred by families in caring for a baby in the NCU, addressing privacy and space concerns, leveraging the family’s role, and avoiding compromising the quality of care in the process of participation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01649-1Mothers’ participationNewborn careNewborn Care UnitsUgandaQualitative interviewsObservations |
| spellingShingle | Phillip Wanduru Claudia Hanson Peter Waiswa Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige Helle Molsted Alvesson Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study Reproductive Health Mothers’ participation Newborn care Newborn Care Units Uganda Qualitative interviews Observations |
| title | Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Mothers’ perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in Newborn Care Units in public hospitals in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | mothers perceptions and experiences of caring for sick newborns in newborn care units in public hospitals in eastern uganda a qualitative study |
| topic | Mothers’ participation Newborn care Newborn Care Units Uganda Qualitative interviews Observations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01649-1 |
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