Mexican Immigrant Families' Beliefs and Goals for Their Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

This article presents a study of Mexican immigrant families' beliefs and goals about caregiving and development for their infants with prematurity, low birth weight, and/or intensive health care needs, as well as their experiences with neonatal intensive care services. Interviews with six families were conducted primarily in Spanish, transcribed, and analyzed in a structured procedure following one major tradition of qualitative research. The study revealed that the Mexican immigrant families had distinct caregiving beliefs for their infants, and certain hospital practices were different from their beliefs and customs. Communication and cultural barriers were identified stressors for families in the neonatal intensive care unit. Extended family members were described as a valuable source of support and information about health and infant caregiving practices. Implications for neonatal intensive care service delivery and suggestions for further research are discussed.