Psychological Effects Experienced by Mothers who’s Neonates Are Admitted in ICU at a National Hospital with Gastroschisis: A Phenomenology Study
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Date
2023
Authors
Thaiya, Rosemary Muthoni
Gachuiri, Grace
Bett, Sarah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Full Length Research
Abstract
Background: Gastroschisis is a rare
congenital condition that occurs while a
fetus is in the early stages of development
that results in the abdominal wall having a
protrusion of abdominal contents – small
and large intestines and the stomach.
Delivery of a neonate with chronic illnesses
like gastroschisis greatly affects mothers
and caregivers because neonates who do
not receive surgical care immediately after
delivery end up losing their lives, while
those who do survive require extensive
medical care that requires additional
hospitalization and comprehensive care
which many parents are unsure how to
provide or able to afford.
Broad Objective: To explore the
psychological effect exhibited by mothers
whose neonates are admitted in Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Kenyatta
National Hospital with gastroschisis.
Methodology: A qualitative study guided
by descriptive phenomenology was
conducted. In-depth-interviews with
twenty-five (25) mothers purposively
sampled, Interviews were audiotaped, the
data later transcribed inductively analyzed
into themes and sub themes.
Findings: Two themes were developed first,
Stages of grieving. Some mothers
experience shock when they saw the
condition of the neonates with denial
feeling that what they were seeing was not
real. They felt angry with God and
bargained on the same hoping that things
would change. The mothers went into
depression and finally accepted their
situation as they came to terms with reality.
The second theme was mental health issues:
in this case, admission of the neonates in
NICU caused mental negative
psychological effects to the caregivers.
They suffered separation anxiety from
other family members. There was
delegation of roles at home as some had
other children. There was fear of stigma and
lack of support from the families. In NICU,
caregivers received peer support from
themselves as they shared different
experiences.
Recommendations: Concerted efforts by
the stakeholders in the Healthcare sector are
necessary in order to alleviate the negative
psychological effects felt by mothers of
children born with gastroschisis.
Description
Article
Keywords
Neonates, Gastroschisis
Citation
Thaiya, R. M., Gachuiri, G., & Bett, S. (2023). Psychological effects experienced by mothers whose neonates are admitted in NICU at a national hospital with gastroschisis: A phenomenology study. International Academic Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing, 2(1), 279-291.