ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aimed to determine the sociodemographic factors affecting the depression-anxiety-stress levels and coping strategies of parents with babies treated in neonatal intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March and October 2021. The sample consisted of 93 parents. Data were collected using a descriptive questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS- 42), and Coping Style Scale (CSS). Results: Participants had mean DASS "depression," "anxiety," and "stress" subscale scores of 13.69⯱â¯8.86, 12.11⯱â¯8.37, and 19.09⯱â¯9.24, respectively. They had mean CSS "self-confident," "optimistic," "helpless," "submissive coping," and "seeking of social support" subscale scores of 2.71⯱â¯0.65, 2.57⯱â¯0.59, 2.29⯱â¯0.62, 2.25⯱â¯0.49, and 2.38⯱â¯0.52, respectively. Fathers had lower mean CSS "helpless" and "submissive" subscale scores than mothers. Participants who were briefed about their babies' condition by nurses had lower mean CSS "helpless" and "submissive" subscale scores than others. Participants with higher education had lower mean CSS "helpless" and "submissive" subscale scores than others. Participants with spouses with bachelor's or higher degrees had a higher median CSS "optimistic" subscale score than those with literate spouses or spouses with primary school degrees. Participants who were worried about the "no visitors" policy had a lower median CSS "self-confident" subscale score than those who were not. Conclusions: Parents who are not allowed to see their babies due to the "no visitors" policy during the COVID-19 pandemic experience more psychosocial problems. Though not a result of the present study, the "no visitors" policy seems to affect the mother-infant attachment adversely. Practice implications: Healthcare professionals should brief parents about what a neonatal intensive care unit is like. They should also warn them that they may not be too happy about how their baby looks before seeing them. Therefore, they should use therapeutic communication techniques to talk to them and explain the situation in a way they can understand. Moreover, they should provide parents with psychological empowerment training programs to help them adopt active coping strategies to deal with challenges in times of crisis.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This study had two objectives: (1) to investigate the psychosocial difficulties experienced by parents of babies treated in a neonatal intensive care unit during the coronavirus pandemic and (2) to determine parent-infant attachment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study adopted phenomenology, a qualitative research design in order to answer the research questions design. The sample consisted of 20 parents of babies treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a City Hospital in Turkey between July and August 2021. Participation was voluntary. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire and a semi-structured qualitative interview form. Each participant was interviewed face to face. Each interview was recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 32.2 ± 3.61 years and at least secondary school degrees. Babies were admitted to the NICU for congenital anomalies (n = 3) or preterm birth (n = 7). Participants experienced anxiety, worry, and loneliness and produced less milk because they could not see and touch their babies. Their greatest source of support was their spouses. CONCLUSION: Parents of babies treated in the NICU during the COVID-19 pandemic experience anxiety, sadness, unhappiness, and loneliness. The preventive measures against the pandemic affect parents psychosocially. Healthcare professionals should plan and implement care practices and establish effective communication with parents to identify their physiological, psychological, and social needs and help them produce breastmilk and bond with their babies.