Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana; Ghana Health and Education Initiative, Sefwi Bekwai, Ghana.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
J Pediatr Nurs. 2019 Mar-Apr;45:e44-e52. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2018.12.017. Epub 2019 Jan 17.
To explore knowledge and beliefs of mothers on low birth weight (LBW), examine care provision at home and societal perceptions of LBW infants.
This qualitative study was conducted using hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Data of mothers who delivered LBW infants within 2 years preceding the study were purposively extracted from the medical records of the Hohoe Municipality Hospital in Ghana. Twenty semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted. A thematic analysis approach was performed using Atlas.ti.
Mothers identified and described LBW babies based on frailty, size and activity levels. LBW recognition was easier for multiparous mothers by comparing with previous deliveries. LBW was linked to poor maternal diet, diseases during pregnancy and heavy workload. Although most mothers perceived their LBW babies as healthy irrespective of the size a few home-care practises differed. Smaller LBW infants were less likely to be socially accepted. In the first few weeks after birth the care of LBW infants is the core responsibility of grandmothers. Primiparous mothers and those whose infants were smaller (<2 kg) quested for more information and support on LBW newborn care at home.
There is a need to increase knowledge on risk factors and tackle lapses in the recognition and care of LBW infants. Counselling on recommended neonatal care should begin during antenatal care and reiterated during postnatal care.
Tailored in-depth and culturally-adapted counselling, discharge instructions and home-based postnatal visits targeted at LBW infants and their primary caregivers could improve care.
探索母亲对低出生体重（LBW）的知识和信念，考察家庭护理和社会对 LBW 婴儿的看法。
本定性研究采用解释学现象学方法进行。从加纳霍霍市医院的病历中，有目的地提取了在研究前 2 年内分娩 LBW 婴儿的母亲的数据。进行了 20 次半结构化访谈和 3 次焦点小组讨论。使用 Atlas.ti 进行主题分析方法。
母亲根据虚弱程度、体型和活动水平来识别和描述 LBW 婴儿。多产妇通过与前几次分娩相比，更容易识别 LBW。LBW 与不良的母亲饮食、怀孕期间的疾病和繁重的工作量有关。尽管大多数母亲认为他们的 LBW 婴儿健康，无论大小，但一些家庭护理实践存在差异。体型较小的 LBW 婴儿不太容易被社会接受。在出生后的头几周，照顾 LBW 婴儿是祖母的核心责任。初产妇和那些婴儿体重较小（<2 公斤）的产妇，会在家庭护理 LBW 新生儿方面寻求更多信息和支持。
有必要增加对危险因素的认识，并解决 LBW 婴儿识别和护理方面的失误。应在产前护理期间开始对推荐的新生儿护理进行咨询，并在产后护理期间重申。
针对 LBW 婴儿及其主要照顾者的量身定制的深入和文化适应的咨询、出院指导和基于家庭的产后访视，可以改善护理。
