A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON MATERNAL PERSPECTIVES ON SPECIAL CARE BABY UNIT CARE AND PARENTING SELF-EFFICACY

Abstract

Parents' experiences in neonatal units are profoundly shaped by the concept of family-centered care (FCC). Family-centered care fosters a sense of inclusion and collaboration, helping parents navigate the challenges of having a newborn in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), ultimately leading to improved outcomes and more positive overall experience. We explore maternal perceptions of care provided in SCBU as well as their parenting self-efficacy impact mechanism. A questionnaire Parent’s perceived FCC was used to obtain the data. As well as, the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) questionnaire. This was handed out to mothers who stayed at least 7 days in the unit. 50 mothers had to answer 9 questions regarding their experience of FCC. While 86% trusted the staff to care for their baby only 14% of mothers’ felt the staff trusted them to care for their baby. 70% felt teaching, guidance and information provided by the staff met their needs. 36% felt their opinion was considered and felt emotional support. Only10% participated in discussion at ward round and felt that they were listened to. The PMP S-E in subcategories 1) care taking procedures, 2) evoking behaviors, 3) reading behaviors or signaling, and 4) situational beliefs showed high score in all, which indicates high maternal self-efficacy. Mothers trust the staff more than the staff trust them. There seems to be a gap in providing FCC that would support more natural parent-infant parenting and nurturing. On the other hand, mothers showed high level of maternal self-efficacy.