Stressors and Coping Strategies Among Neonates' Mothers Admitted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

Abstract: Back ground: The birth of a neonate that needs care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is one of the most stressful experiences for the mothers. The abrupt transition of baby from the protected environment of the womb to the pressured environment of neonatal intensive care unit present mother with a wide range of stressors. Aim: The study aimed to assess stressors and coping strategies among neonates' mothers admitted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Research Design: The study followed a Descriptive research design to achieve the aim of the present study. Setting: The study was conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Tanta University Hospital. The study subjects: The subjects of the study were Convenience sampling of 120 neonates' mothers admitted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tools: Data was collected by using two tools. 1) Parental Stressor Scale; 2) cope scale. Results: According to their total level of parental stressor. It found that about half of the studied mothers were moderately stressful, while (1.7%) Of the studied mothers were not at all stressful. The mean score of the total level of parental stressor is (196.78±5.906). According to their total level of utilization of coping strategies. It found that more than half about 64.2% of the studied mothers had moderate utilization of coping strategies. Conclusion: There was statistically Correlation between total score of Stressor domains and total utilization of coping strategies score among the studied mothers. Recommendation: Based on the result of this study, it was recommended that the nurses at all levels need to have specialized knowledge and training, Conducting training program for nurses about stressors facing mothers and different strategies to deal with it.