Black mothers' experiences of a neonatal care unit

Abstract

The physical and emotional needs of mothers with children in neonatal units has remained relatively unstudied in the 'Third World'. This study looks at the demographic characteristics and perceived needs of 201 Black mothers of premature infants. The newborns were in either a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU, n=100) or a low care ward (n = 100) following previous NICU hospitalization. Eighty-nine mothers were hospitalized at Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, South Africa, while 112 stayed at home. As is common in the Black population, mothers were generally relatively poor and educationally disadvantaged. In addition, babies were often unplanned and of low birth weight. Long delays occurred before mothers had access to their babies, and preparation before encountering the NICU and the infant was lacking. Strict regimentation of routines appeared to intimidate mothers and few had contact with medical staff. Other deficits such as lack of telephones, reading matter, radios or TV and church services were also revealed. In spite of the deficits, 78% of mothers would have preferred to stay in hospital with their newborns than to go home.