Department of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, ZA.
Ann Glob Health. 2020 Feb 3;86(1):10. doi: 10.5334/aogh.2555.
Inadequate neonatal facilities in rural areas is one of the challenges affecting the management of preterm infants. In low income countries with limited resources, over 90% of preterm babies die within few days of life.
The purpose of this study was to describe the challenges encountered by midwives when providing care to preterm infants at resource limited health facilities in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Qualitative research approach, using exploratory and descriptive design was used. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select twenty three midwives who had an experience of two or more years in maternity. Data was collected using unstructured individual interviews, which were voice recorded and transcribed and data analysed qualitatively through the open-coding method.
Revealed one theme, preterm condition and expected care; with sub-themes namely; perceived causes of preterm complications and deaths, preterm babies experience several difficulties which need specialised care, the need for constant individualised care and monitoring of preterm infants by midwives, functional relevant equipment needed for care of preterm infants, a need for constant training for midwives regarding care of preterm infants, and importance for a proper structure to house preterm infants which will lead to quality care provision.
Preterm babies need simple essential care such as warmth, feeding support, safe oxygen use and prevention of infection. Lack of adequate resources and limited skills from midwives could contribute to morbidity and mortality. Health facility managers need to create opportunities for basic and advanced preterm care to equip the skills of midwives by sending them to special trainings such as Limpopo Initiative Neonatal Care (LINC), Helping Baby Breath (HHB) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Operational managers should be involved in the identification, procurement and supply of required equipment. Continuous health education should be provided on the mothers about kangaroo mother care (KMC) and measures to prevent infections in the neonatal unit.
农村地区新生儿设施不足是影响早产儿管理的挑战之一。在资源有限的低收入国家，超过 90%的早产儿在生命的头几天内死亡。
本研究旨在描述南非林波波省资源有限的卫生机构的助产士在为早产儿提供护理时所面临的挑战。
采用定性研究方法，使用探索性和描述性设计。采用非概率目的抽样选择了 23 名有两年以上产科经验的助产士。使用非结构化的个人访谈收集数据，访谈进行录音并转录，数据通过开放式编码方法进行定性分析。
揭示了一个主题，即早产儿的状况和预期护理；有以下子主题：早产儿并发症和死亡的感知原因、早产儿经历的多种需要特殊护理的困难、需要持续的个性化护理和对早产儿的监测、早产儿护理所需的功能相关设备、需要对助产士进行持续的早产儿护理培训、以及为早产儿提供适当的住所结构的重要性，这将导致提供优质护理。
早产儿需要简单的基本护理，如保暖、喂养支持、安全使用氧气和预防感染。缺乏足够的资源和助产士有限的技能可能导致发病率和死亡率上升。卫生机构管理人员需要创造机会进行基本和高级的早产儿护理，通过派遣他们参加利诺波洛倡议新生儿护理（LINC）、帮助婴儿呼吸（HHB）和新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）等特殊培训，来提高助产士的技能。运营经理应参与确定、采购和供应所需设备。应向产妇提供关于袋鼠式护理（KMC）和新生儿病房感染预防措施的持续健康教育。
