Impact of Educational Program for Mothers' Knowledge Regarding Care of Pre-term Infants in General Hospitals in Port Said

Abstract

Background: Having a premature infant is one of the most stressful experiences a parent can have. Most parents find it very difficult to go through the experience of having their baby in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) without needing emotional support. Nurses play a vital role in helping parents by developing therapeutic relationships, providing emotional support, providing parents with accurate, clear information, involving parents in providing care for their premature infants and encourage parents to ask questions and get the information they need. Aim: The aim of this study was to study the impact of home care program on mother's knowledge regarding care of pre-term infant. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out at the neonatal intensive care units at El Naser, general Port Fouad hospitals and maternal and child health (MCH) centers representing at Port-Said city. The sample comprised 100 mothers' study and control groups. Results: The results indicated that the implementation of a well designed applied educational program proved to be successful in improving mothers' knowledge. Conclusion: An educational program for mothers having preterm infant showed significant impact on their knowledge regarding care of pre-term infant. Recommendation: The study recommends implementation of the present study intervention in the study setting and in similar settings to confirm its beneficial effects and to further improve its content and process