Environmental stressors, coping mechanisms and support system for mothers with infants at the neonatal intensive care unit: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Mothers with their babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) experience numerous stressors associated to preterm birth, the infant´s medical condition and the complexity of the NICU atmosphere. This study assessed the environmental stressors and coping mechanisms and support systems for mothers with their infants admitted at the Neonatal Intensive care unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital. METHODS: the data was collected from the Tamale Teaching Hospital´s NICU using a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based design with a quantitative approach. A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit 316 mothers from the NICU in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data following approval from the Tamale Teaching Hospital Research and Development Unit from April 2020 and ended September 2020. Stata version 14.1 was used to analyze the data. The overall stress level was tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test, which revealed a normal distribution (p=0.150). The variables that predicted maternal stress levels were determined using simple and complex linear regressions. RESULTS: the study revealed an overall mean stress score of 2.78 (SD=0.59). 99.4% of mothers left the matter in the hands of God. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed mothers aged 35 and above with infants at the NICU had an increased stress level compared to mothers aged 20-24 years [B=10.14, 95%CI=2.21, 18.07), p=0.012]. Mothers of preterm infants had an increased level of stress compared to the mothers with term infants [B=6.72, (95%CI=0.85, 12.58), p=0.025]. Again one-day increased in the days in NICU decreased the level of stress of mothers [B= -0.63, (95%CI= -1.14, -0.11), p=0.017]. CONCLUSIONS: motherly stress is significant to the wellbeing of the mother thus interventions that minimize stress and provide comfort, relaxation, education, counseling, and means of expressing their emotions should be promoted.