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Erschienen in:
01.05.2013 | Original Article
NICU Admissions and Maternal Stress Levels
Erschienen in: Indian Journal of Pediatrics | Ausgabe 5/2013
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Objective
To determine the stress levels among mothers of babies admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and to identify demographic parameters that influence their stress levels.
Methods
Stress levels were assessed using Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) questionnaire among 100 NICU mothers by doctors between 6 and 8 d of admission. Maternal stress was quantified using Likert scale as low (1–2.9), medium (3–3.9) and high (4–5). The data was analyzed using SPSS Ver.16.
Results
The mean scores for the subscales sights and sounds, looks and behaviour and alteration in the parental role were 2.55, 4.1 and 4.12 respectively. Increased maternal age, prematurity of baby, longer NICU stay and inability to directly breastfeed the baby were associated with higher stress levels.
Conclusions
NICU mothers are under significant stress and appropriate counseling targeted towards specific stressors is required.