Boadu Mary, Ohene Lillian Akorfa, Senoo-Dogbey Vivian Efua
Department of Public Health Nursing, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
BMC Pediatr. 2025 Jul 29;25(1):577. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05912-1.
The families of the preterm infants face a multitude of challenges during their infants' hospitalization at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Ghanaian context. In their vulnerable state, these families require significant support to help them cope. This study aims to explore support systems available to families of preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a public referral hospital in the capital city of Ghana, Accra.
The study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the phenemenon. The inclusion criteria considered all parents above the age of 18 years who were medically fit and emotionally stable to participate in the study. The language barrier was mainly an exclusion criterion. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with purposively selected participants, and a semi-structured interview guide guided the interviews. Data collection and recruitment of participants stopped once data saturation was reached.
Sixteen participants whose infants were hospitalized at the NICU were interviewed. Three themes were identified: a. Healthcare worker support, b.Social support, and c. Financial support systems. Based on the nature and sources of support identified, ten subthemes were further developed from thematic areas.
The study highlights the comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to support systems available to families at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the hospitalization of preterm babies. While healthcare workers are essential in providing medical and emotional care, contributions from families, peers, and philanthropic groups can help parents cope during difficult times. We recommend that hospitals in Ghana consider developing policies and practice guidelines such as the Child and Family Centred Care (CFCC) that prioritize communication to ensure that families receive regular updates about the infant's condition and medical care plans regardless of the medical background of the communicator.
在加纳的背景下，早产儿家庭在其婴儿入住新生儿重症监护病房（NICU）期间面临着诸多挑战。处于脆弱状态的这些家庭需要大量支持来帮助他们应对。本研究旨在探索在加纳首都阿克拉的一家公立转诊医院的新生儿重症监护病房住院的早产儿家庭可获得的支持系统。
本研究采用定性方法来探索这一现象。纳入标准考虑所有年龄在18岁以上、身体健康且情绪稳定以参与研究的父母。语言障碍主要是一项排除标准。通过对有目的选择的参与者进行深入访谈收集数据，半结构化访谈指南指导访谈。一旦达到数据饱和，数据收集和参与者招募即停止。
对16名其婴儿在新生儿重症监护病房住院的参与者进行了访谈。确定了三个主题：a. 医护人员支持，b. 社会支持，以及c. 财务支持系统。基于所确定的支持的性质和来源，从主题领域进一步发展出十个子主题。
该研究强调了在早产儿住院期间为新生儿重症监护病房的家庭提供支持系统的全面和多学科方法。虽然医护人员在提供医疗和情感护理方面至关重要，但家庭、同伴和慈善团体的贡献可以帮助父母在困难时期应对。我们建议加纳的医院考虑制定政策和实践指南，如以儿童和家庭为中心的护理（CFCC），其优先考虑沟通，以确保无论沟通者的医学背景如何，家庭都能定期收到关于婴儿状况和医疗护理计划的最新信息。
