Effects of Preterm Birth On Bonding, A Study at KATH MBU
Effects of Preterm Birth On Bonding, A Study at KATH MBU
Effects of Preterm Birth On Bonding, A Study at KATH MBU
Group Members
Appiah Boateng Edward
Agyemang Serwaa Linda
Antwi Opoku Ernest
Introduction Background to the Study
Year
General
This study seeks to identify how admission of preterm babies
to KATH MBU affects the bonding process between the
parents and their preterm infant within the period of admission
into the MBU.
Specific
To assess parents’ knowledge on preterm delivery.
To identify common concerns of parents of preterm infants
while on admission.
To identify care patterns of preterm infants at the KATH
MBU.
Study Area
Mother and Baby Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Study Population
forty mothers of preterm infants on admission who had spent,
at least, three days in the unit. Data collection period was from
5th to 20th of April, 2008.
Selection of the mothers was by convenience sampling
method.
Exclusion from the study was mothers of preterm infants with
other congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate, hare lip,
etc.
Study Design
Non experimental study design
Cross-sectional study design
Cumulative
Causes Frequency Percent Percent
fetal abnormality 1 2.5 2.5
multiple gestation 1 2.5 5.0
medical conditions
15 37.5 42.5
in mother
premature rupture
19 47.5 90.0
of membranes
others (enema,
strenuous 4 10.0 100.0
activities, etc.)
Total 40 100.0
Feelings of Mothers about Baby's Admission to MBU
Cumulative
Feelings Frequency Percent Percent
Scared 9 22.5 22.5
mixed
19 47.5 70.0
feelings
Guilty 2 5.0 75.0
Lonely 2 5.0 80.0
Sad 8 20.0 100.0
Total 40 100.0
Time Spent by Mother and Baby Together in a Day
Cumulative
Time Frame Frequency Percent Percent
3-5 hours 1 2.5 2.5
Total 40 100.0
Other Activities Mothers do for Babies on Admission
20
15
Frequency
10
17 17
1
0
changing diapers changing diapers and changing diapers and changing diapers,
holding baby skin to skin cleaning babies, holding
cleaning babies
baby skin to skin
Activities
Relationship between Mother and Baby at the Time of Data Collection
Cumulative
Relationship Frequency Percent Percent
Withdrawn 1 2.5 2.5
Close 37 92.5 95.0
Incompetent 1 2.5 97.5
Helpless 1 2.5 100.0
Total 40 100.0
Mothers Satisfaction with Information Provided by Healthcare
Providers
60
50
40
Percentages30
55.0%
45.0%
20
10
0
no yes
Mothers’ satisfaction
Mothers Feelings about NICU Environment
Cumulative
Feelings Frequency Percent Percent
Scared 14 35.0 35.0
Conducive for
neonatal care 26 65.0 100.0
Total 40 100.0
• The study by Kennel and Klaus (1998) revealed that mothers with
more access to their babies in the hospital developed better rapport
with their infants, held them more comfortably, and smiled and
talked back to them more often.
• Majority (92.5%) of the mothers felt close to their babies and 90%
of them were comfortable relating to their babies.
• Pictures and posters on KMC had been pasted on the unit. Mothers had
been well educated on KMC and its benefits for both mother and baby.
• However its practice was not very common. Reasons given were that the
babies’ conditions and equipment connected to them would not permit
mothers to practice KMC.
• Inadequate information provided by the healthcare team to the
mothers during such periods of emotional disturbances may
increase the anxiety and fears of the mothers. Twenty-two
(55%) of the mothers for this study were not satisfied with the
information provided by the healthcare team on the condition
of their babies. According to Mok and Leung (2006) mothers
of preterm infants desire more information and supportive
communication. Most parents do not want to have extensive
and complex explanation. Parents just want to be informed and
be able to ask questions, which make them feel included
(Gordin and Johnson, 1999).
• Fourteen (35%) of the mothers for this study said they were
scared of the MBU. Several studies by Shields, Kristensson-
Hallstrom, O'Callaghan (2003), Bass (1991) and Miles (1989)
showed that the environment at the NICU is experienced as a
stressor for parents of preterm infants, supporting the above
finding of this study. However, majority (65%) of the mothers
who participated in this study did not talk much about the high
technology environment at the MBU but saw the technology
as important for giving the infants the best care as possible.
The study, “Effects of Preterm Birth on Bonding: A Study at KATH MBU”,
revealed the following;
Admission of a preterm infant into the MBU has no direct negative effect on the
bonding process.
Many mothers attributed the cause of their preterm delivery to physiological
processes and, as such, did not blame themselves.
There were social support systems within the unit (relationships between
mothers and the healthcare team and that among mothers) which helped to allay
anxiety in mothers.
Mothers spent between 5 – 7 hours with their babies in a day within which they
breastfed and performed other activities for them. Mothers testified that the time
they spent with their babies was enough for them.
Fathers were not directly involved in the care of their babies except payment of
hospital bills and other expenses.
Kangaroo mother care which was practiced by minority (45%) of the mothers
increased their confidence and competence in caring for their babies.
Many mothers were not satisfied with the information provided to them by the
healthcare team about the condition of their babies.
Fathers should be assisted to be actively involved in the care of their preterm
babies. Infection prevention measures such as the use of sterile gowns, washing
of hands before touching babies, etc. should be put in place so that fathers can
hold and perform other activities for their babies whenever they Fathers should
be assisted to be actively involved in the care of their preterm babies. Infection
prevention measures such as the use of sterile visit.
Photographs of some preterm babies that have ever been on admission, at birth
and after some years of discharge should be pasted in the unit. This would give
new preterm parents the assurance that their babies would survive no matter
their condition as at the time of admission.
There should be measures to promote the effective implementation of kangaroo
mother care. One of such measures is that a KMC unit should be established so
that babies that are about to be discharged can spend not less than 24hours with
their mothers there. KMC would then be practiced under the supervision of
nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Parents just want to be informed and be able to ask questions, which make
them feel included (Gordin and Johnson, 1999). Therefore, information on
condition of babies should be explained in simple and clear terms to mothers
and they should also be encouraged to ask questions.
References
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Furthering the Understanding and Measurements of Neurodevelopmental Competence in Preterm and
Full-term Infants. In: Kleberg A (2006). Promoting Preterm Infants’ Development and Mother Child
Interaction, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.
• Bass L.S. (1991). What do Parents need when their Infant is a Patient in the NICU? Neonatal Network
10 (4) pp. 25–33
• Eckerman CO, Oehler JM, Medvin MB, Hannan TE (1994). Premature Newborns as Social Partners
before Term Age. In: Kleberg A (2006). Promoting Preterm Infants’ Development and Mother Child
Interaction, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
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References
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