Lived Experience of Mothers Having Preterm Newborns in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Southern Ethiopia: A Phenomenological Study

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Background: Following hospitalization of a preterm infant, mothers experience unexpected and stressful events. In Ethiopia, specifically in the study area, the experiences of mothers with preterm babies, the difficulties they face during their hospital stay, as well as the types of support available to help them deal with the difficulties have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: To explore the lived experiences of mothers having preterm newborns in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (WSUCSH), Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia. Methods and materials: A qualitative design with phenomenological approach was used. Twelve mothers were selected purposively to explore their lived experiences. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and field notes from Apr 27-Jun 3, 2022. The interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis following Colaizzi’s 7 steps approach. Data were coded by using Open Code Software Version 4.02. Results: Four themes were identified, namely: mothers’ emotional experience, care and support to cope with the situation, difficulties encountered during NICU stay and sense of difference. Shock, fear, worry, and anxiety were mothers’ major negative emotional experiences. They complained about the lack of medicine and laboratory tests at the hospital and issues with some facilities, such as a lack of space for showering, overcrowded rooms, being in multi-bed rooms, and an inconvenient toilet. Despite difficulties in communication, they appreciated the care and support of health professionals. Conclusion and recommendation: Mothers with preterm babies in the NICU experienced both negative and positive emotions. The unavailability of medicine, inadequate hospital facilities and the negative experience with some HCPs affected mothers’ stay. Hence, HCPs’ effective communication and understanding of mothers situations to better reflect their needs and the hospital’s paying close attention to the difficulties of resource constraints was recommended.