Background
Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has been embraced as an effective and efficient method of neonatal care. The healthcare institutions in South Africa especially North West Province (NWP) have not increased the implementation of SSC even after more than a decade of its recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO). South Africa constitutes 60% of low birth weight (LBW) preterm infants’ mortality rate globally. This has led to a concern about the perceptions of the key drivers and parents of preterm infants regarding the implementation of SSC in the intensive care units to reduce preterm mortality rate. Therefore, this study aims to develop an educational programme to implement SSC for preterm infants in the intensive care unit of the NWP.
Methods
This study will be done in three phases. Phase 1: Integrative literature review (ILR) adopted the following five steps: formulation of the review question, search strategy, critical appraisal, data analysis synthesis and conclusion. Phase 2: Empirical study using a qualitative exploratory and descriptive design. Purposive sampling will be used to select two populations. Population one will be parents of preterm infants and population two will be Registered nurses and midwives. Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) with a minimum of 6 participants will be used to collect data in both populations until reaching data saturation. Data will be analyzed using steps proposed by Creswell and Clark. Phase 3: Development of an educational programme to implement skin-to-skin for preterm infants in the intensive care units using Kellogg’s Logic Model (KLM). The following three KLM steps for the development of educational programme will be used: Inputs and activities, Identify Outputs, Outcomes and Outcomes Indicators.
Conclusion
This chapter provided a background to the research and a brief structure of the thesis. The research aim and objectives and research methodology highlighted. Findings from phases 1 and 2 will be used to form the basis for the development of an educational programme in phase 3.