The relationship between the anxiety level of mothers of hospitalized infants in neonatal care unit, their involving in the care and their skill of solving care problems

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the anxiety level of mothers of hospitalized infants in Neonatal Care Unit, their involving in the care and their skill of solving care problems. Method: The study carried out with 340 mothers of of hospitalized infants in Pamukkale University Child Surgery Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Denizli State Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as identifying. Data were collected with information form of mothers and babies, observation form of involving in care and Persistence Anxiety Scale and evaluatin form of problem solving skill. Data was analized with T-test, varience, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and correlation analysis Results: The average age of the mothers in the study is 27,65±5,64 (range: 18-47). It was found out that 35,6% of the mothers are primary school graduates, that 73,8% are housewives, that 84,1% live in nucleus families, and that 7,4% lack medical insurance. It was established that the mothers met their babies 6,28±2,43 (range 1-20) times a day on average, including visiting hours and care hours, and that they took part in a good number of basic caring activities. There was a negative correlation between the mothers' points for State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Problem-Solving Skills Subscale, Baby Care Skills Subscale, and Observation Form for Participation in Care, and that there was a positive correlation between the mothers' points for Problem-Solving Skills Subscale and Caring Skills Subscale, and Observation Form for Participation in Care. Conclusion: The study revealed that the mothers' participation in care of their babies hospitalized in newborn intensive care unit reduce their state-trait anxiety levels and boosted their baby caring skills and their problem-solving skills concerning their baby care skills. While encouraging the mothers to participate in caring of their babies can positively contribute to maternal health and baby care, their problem-solving skills might make a significant contribution to the baby's growth and development and recovery process. Keywords: Infant care, midwifery/care, anxiety, problem-solving skills, neonatal intensive care unit, high-risk newborns