Investigation on home care difficulties of mothers who have premature babies after discharging from neonatal intensive care unit

AIM: The main purpose of this study is to determine home care difficulties of mothers who have premature babies after discharging neonatal intensive care unit. METHOD: The study was carried out in a period of three months from November 2015 to January 2016 at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Educational Hospital. Data sets were built up inquiry studies by talking face to face with 125 mothers who brought their premature babies to pediatric clinic for the first control FINDINGS: The surveys revealed that 53.6 % of 125 mothers have some difficulties related to home care of their premature babies. Based on information obtained from the participants, they mainly have baby holding problem (44% of them)and also have communication difficulties (44.8%) with their babies. The results showed that more than half percent of the participants (51.2%) have not been informed about premature baby care. However 46.4% of mothers expressed that they have been informed by health care stuff (doctor, nurse etc.). The majority of mothers (80%) blamed themselves for having insufficient knowledge about premature baby care. Unfortunately most of the participants (91.2 %) were not aware of first-aid techniques. RESULTS: Having a premature baby is anxious and stressful situation. Nurses should be initiative in establishing the baby-mother relation as soon as possible. Nurses should be supportive to the relation not only establishing but also developing it. Home care of neonatal babies is required systematic knowledge. Therefore, the expert nurses should provide special trainings to baby's parents by applying family-centered approach before discharging from hospital. Home care abilities of the parents can be strengthening with these kinds of trainings. A good maintenance and a communication are very important issues for the success of post- discharge care requirements and prevention of reoccurrence of hospitalization. Keywords: Premature baby, mother, difficulty