Psychological Impact of the Hospital Stay: The Experience of Mothers of Newborns Hospitalized In Neonatology at Gabriel Toure Hospital

Abstract

Hospitalization of newborns leads to tricky psychological concerns. Creating a therapeutic alliance between parents and caregivers is necessary for a optimal care. Objectives: To assess the psychological impact on mothers of newborns hospitalized in the neonatology department of the Gabriel Touré University Hospital. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study conducted over a six-month period (from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020). The questionnaire was completed by interviewing mothers of newborns hospitalized in neonatology. Data were collected and analyzed on SPSS. Results: The age range of 15-25 years was most represented in our survey with 62%. Ninety-six (96%) of the mothers used to be married and 58% attended school. The welcoming at admittance was acceptable in 62% of cases. All the mothers had consented to the hospitalisation of their newborns. Unfortunately, sadness, fear and anxiety were the most common complaints of the mothers (36%, 28% and 20% respectively). Organization of the department was rated as poor by 96% of mothers, and 58% of those mothers could not identify the function of the healthcare staff during their hospital stay. Access to caregivers was considered unsatisfactory in 54% of respondents. The diagnosis was explained in 72% of cases and 76% of mothers were involved in caring for their child. Sleep disturbances were noted in 32% of the interviewees. The majority of them had a negative opinion of the hospital stay (74%). Conclusion: Parental support during hospitalization and throughout medical care is crucial to the well-being of the newly born child. The enhancement of communication with the parents of newborns is required for an effective as well as efficient care.