NICU parents’ mental health : A comparative study with parents of term and healthy infants, 1 month after discharge

• Background: Parents who have been at neonatal units (NICUs) with their infants have increased risks for exhibit symptoms of depression or psychological trauma. Key risk factors for the onset of depression, symptoms of psychological trauma, or parental anxiety during the time in NICU are; a stressful birth experience, early and prolonged separation and unclear responsibilities for the infant (de Paula Eduardo et al., 2019; R. Flacking et al., 2012). Maternal depression levels in NICU mothers could decrease if parents' have [ME1] unlimited access to their infants, a trustworthy staff-parent partnership, substantial emotional support (Axelin et al., 2021), and a single-family room (Tandberg et al., 2019). In Sweden most parents can stay at the unit day and night and therefore staff has good opportunities to give support (Flacking et al., 2019).Aim: To compare mental health in parents of preterm/ill infants and parents of term and healthy infants before birth and 1 month after hospital discharge.Method: A comparative cohort design where parents from six NICUs (n=439) and four maternal units (MUs) (n=484) in Sweden answered a survey one month after discharge.Results:Parents from NICUs experienced significantly more traumatic births and rated their health worse the first week after giving birth, compared to MU parents. NICU parents also rated their infant’s health worse the first week after birth and they had longer hospital stay. One month after discharge there was no difference between NICU and MU parents regarding symptoms of postnatal depression (EPDS). However, an association between traumatic birth and depression was only observed in mothers from MUs. Both parents at all NICUs had access to their infant 24/7 and they were significantly more often staying together as a family at the NICU. In total 80% of NICU parents were satisfied with the emotional support given by staff and significantly more NICU fathers were satisfied compared to MU fathers.Conclusion: ‘Family togetherness’, parent-infant closeness, and emotional support at the NICU could be protective factors for developing depression in NICU parents in the short term because it strengthens parenthood, attachment, and resilience.  [ME1]had?

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Discharge

EPDS

health

NICU

parents

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

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