Experiences and Perceptions of Parents toward Health Care Delivery at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Tamale Government Hospitals: A Qualitative Inquiry
Abstract:
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission is usually unexpected
and can be stressful to the parents causing strenuous psychosocial effects.
Parents of infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units often reported
suffering stress, depression, and feelings of powerlessness. This study explored the
experiences of parents on health care delivery at Neonatal Intensive Care
Units. A qualitative study was conducted using phenomenology design and data
were collected from nine mothers taking care of their infants at the Neonatal
Intensive Care Units of two government hospitals in Tamale. Face-to-face
in-dept interviews were conducted employing a semi-structured interview guide.
The interviews were audio taped, and thematic analysis was performed to analyse
the interview transcripts. Three themes were generated from data analysis and
organized in line with the theoretical framework adopted in this study.
Although participants are willing to cooperate in the health care delivery
system, many of them are not comfortable with the behaviour of some staffs in
the facilities. The study found that logistics to render health care was
woefully inadequate. Inadequate environmental hygiene, a lack of privacy,
inadequate health education, and poor communication between patients and
parents have all contributed to some patients’ negative health care
experiences. Hospital management and concerned bodies should consciously and
deliberately take efforts to provide the logistics and structural appropriation
to improve health care delivery at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
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