ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the real maternal and infant care experience and needs of spouses of puerperal women, so as to provide a basis for improving maternal and infant care capacity and participation of spouses and promoting maternal and infant health.Methods:Guided by dyadic coping theory, the semi-structured interviews were conducted among 18 spouses of puerperal women who gave birth at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from July to September 2022 using the phenomenological research method, and the recording data were analyzed by Colaizzi phenomenon analytical method.Results:Three themes were extracted, including positive experience of maternal and infant care of spouses of puerperal women (positive psychological emotions, adjustment of perceptions and behaviors, understanding of social support), negative experience of maternal and infant care of spouses of puerperal women (negative psychological emotions, poor care competence, imbalance during life and work), diversified needs for maternal and infant care of spouses of puerperal women (the need for multidimensional knowledge and skills, the suggestion of building continuous health education platform, the expectation of support from family).Conclusions:Medical staff should provide the spouses of puerperal women with diversified maternal and infant care and professional continuing nursing according to their experience and needs. Meanwhile, the family support system should be improved to enhance their sense of competence and participation in maternal and infant care and promote maternal and infant health.