Fathers' experiences of supporting their partners during their preterm infant's stay in the neonatal intensive care unit: a multi-method study.

Autor: Stefana A; Independent Researcher, Brescia, Italy. alberto.stefana@gmail.com., Biban P; Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy., Padovani EM; Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy., Lavelli M; Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association [J Perinatol] 2022 Jun; Vol. 42 (6), pp. 714-722. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 01.
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01195-3
Abstrakt: Objective: To explore how the fathers experience their role as a support for their partner and the relationship with them during their preterm infant's stay in the NICU.
Study Design: Multi-method longitudinal study involving ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews, self-report questionnaires, and clinical information. Twenty fathers of preterm infants hospitalized in a level-III-NICU were included. Data were analyzed using thematic continent analysis.
Results: Three main themes were identified: support for mother (subthemes: putting mother's and infant's needs first; hiding worries and negative emotions; counteracting the sense of guilt; fear that the mother would reject the child), mother's care for the infant (subthemes: observing mother engaged in caregiving; mother has "something extra"), and couple relationship (subthemes: collaboration; bond).
Conclusion: Fathers supporting their partners during the stay in the NICU experience emotional distress and the need for being supported that often are hidden. This demands a great deal of emotional and physical energy.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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