The experiences of adolescent mothers on providing continuous kangaroo mother care to their infants in a hospital

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is the practice of skin-to-skin contact between an infant and parent and was introduced as a complementary approach to neonatal intensive care for low birth weight and premature infants. KMC has been shown to reduce infant mortality, decrease illness, decrease infection and the length of stay in hospital for infants. The most frequently reported complication of adolescent pregnancy is preterm labour. Adolescents are thus at high risk of having to provide KMC to their infants and may have difficulty in caring for an infant. The adolescent mother therefore requires support while providing KMC. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of adolescent mothers on providing kangaroo mother care to their infants in a hospital. Methods A qualitative approach with a descriptive phenomenological design was used to explore the experiences of adolescent mothers aged 15 to 19 years on providing kangaroo mother care to their infants in a hospital. The study applied purposive sampling to select participants from Karl Bremer and Tygerberg hospitals in the Western Cape. The Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital and the Department of Health of the Western Cape granted permission to conduct the study. Ten individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi’s framework. Findings The themes that emerged were: Becoming and being a mother; KMC: Being cared for and caring for; and Ineffectual support. The adolescent mothers had to adapt to many changes throughout pregnancy, labour, post-delivery and when providing KMC. The adolescent mothers were all shocked and disappointed about the pregnancy but narrated that they had to accept the pregnancy and later accepted motherhood after they have gained self confidence in caring for their infants. They all received information on how to practice KMC. However, they had not received any information about the benefits of KMC and the specific care of a preterm infant. Interactions with the other mothers in the ward were amicable and supportive. Interactions with the doctors and nurses were formal and were only directed at the care of the infant. Occasionally interactions between the adolescent mothers and the nurses were incompatible. Care and support was provided for the infant but was lacking for the mother. The mothers did not receive any physical support despite still being in the postnatal period. Social support was provided to the adolescent mothers who were referred to the social worker. They received some discharge support but it was only focused on the care of the infant. Conclusion The findings demonstrated that adolescent mothers providing KMC to their infants in a KMC ward in a hospital lack the understanding of KMC, its benefits and the specific care of a preterm infant. The focus of care should not only be on the infant, but also on the adolescent mother. These mothers require continuous information and holistic support to develop their skills and confidence to provide effective care for their infants while in the KMC ward, but also for when they are discharged home.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Agtergrond Kangaroo moedersorg (KMC) is die praktyk van vel-tot-vel kontak tussen 'n baba en ouer en is bekend gestel as 'n aanvullende benadering tot neonatale intensiewe sorg vir lae geboortegewig en premature babas. Daar is bewyse dat KMC die voorkoms van kindersterftes, siekte, infeksie en die lengte van hospitaaltoelating vir babas verminder. Die mees algemene komplikasie van adolessente swangerskap is premature kraam. Adolessente het dus 'n hoë risiko om KMC aan hul babas te voorsien en hulle mag dit dalk moeilik vind om 'n baba te versorg. Die adolessente moeder benodig dus ondersteuning terwyl sy KMC verskaf. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ervarings van adolessente moeders aangaande die kangaroo moedersorg wat hulle aan hul babas in 'n hospitaal verskaf te ondersoek. Metode ‘n Kwalitatiewe benadering met 'n beskrywende fenomenologiese ontwerp is gebruik om die ervarings van adolessente moeders te ondersoek wie kangaroo moedersorg aan hul babas in 'n hospitaal verskaf. Die studie het doelgerigte steekproefneming aangewend om deelnemers uit Karl Bremer en Tygerberg hospitale in die Wes-Kaap te kies. Die Gesondheidsnavorsing Etiekkomitee van die Universiteit Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospitaal en die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Gesondheid het toestemming verleen om die studie te verrig. Tien individuele semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is uitgevoer, getranskribeer en geanaliseer met behulp van Colaizzi se raamwerk. Resultate Die temas wat na vore gekom het, was: Om 'n ma te word en te wees; KMC: Omgee vir en omgee; en Ondoeltreffende ondersteuning. Die adolessente moeders moes aanpas by veranderings gedurende die swangerskap, kraam, nageboorte en wanneer hulle KMC verskaf het. Die adolessente moeders was almal geskok en teleurgesteld oor die swangerskap, maar het vertel dat hulle die swangerskap moes aanvaar en dat hulle later moederskap aanvaar het nadat hulle selfvertroue ontwikkel het om hul babas te versorg. Hulle het almal inligting ontvang oor hoe om KMC te beoefen. Hulle het egter nie inligting ontvang oor die voordele van KMC en die spesifieke versorging van 'n premature baba nie. Interaksies met die ander moeders in die saal was vriendelik en ondersteunend. Interaksies met die dokters en verpleegsters was formeel en was slegs gerig op die versorging van die baba. Sommige interaksies tussen die adolessente moeders en die verpleegsters was onversoenbaar. Sorg en ondersteuning is vir die baba voorsien, maar was nie vir die moeder voorsien nie. Die moeders het geen fisiese ondersteuning ontvang nie, hoewel hulle nog in die nageboorte tydperk was. Maatskaplike ondersteuning is voorsien aan die adolessente moeders wat na die maatskaplike werker verwys is. Hulle het 'n mate van ontslag ondersteuning ontvang, maar dit was slegs gefokus op die versorging van die baba. Slotsom Die bevindings het getoon dat adolessente moeders wat KMC aan hul kinders in 'n KMC saal in 'n hospitaal voorsien nie die begrip van KMC, die voordele en die spesifieke versorging van 'n premature baba het nie. Die fokus van sorg moet nie net op die baba wees nie, maar ook op die adolessente moeder. Hierdie moeders benodig deurlopende inligting en holistiese ondersteuning om hul vaardighede en vertroue te ontwikkel om effektief te sorg vir hul babas terwyl hulle in die KMC saal is, maar ook wanneer hulle ontslaan word.
Description
Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Kangaroo mother care, UCTD, Teenage mothers, Mother and child, Premature infants -- Care, Touch in infants, Skin-to-skin contact
Citation