Evaluation of Parents’ Awareness and Knowledge about Problems and Issues Related to Their Premature Infants in an Iranian Hospital

Nasrin Khalesi^1,2, Fatemeh Shoaae Anjom¹, Golnaz Rezaeiezadeh³, Zahra Farahani^2*

¹Neonatal Division, Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
²Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³Breastfeeding Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/ojn.2015.55049                

Abstract

Premature infant is an infant who was born before the end of 37th weeks of pregnancy. Approximately 9.6% of infants are premature and they can be at risk for hospitalization. This study has done for evaluation of awareness and knowledge of parents about problems of premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This was a descriptive study with 160 parents whose premature infants were admitted to NICU (Tehran-Iran, 2009-2011). Data were collected by a questionnaire for evaluation of awareness and knowledge of parents about problems of prematurity, and then analyzed by using descriptive analytic statistical methods and SPSS software. Based on the results, there was a significant relation between age and the total score of questionnaire (P = 0.022, R = 0.18). Mothers had higher awareness and knowledge than fathers (P < 0.05). The most awareness in parents was about doing of hygienic principle when they entered to NICU and about the importance of regularly and continuous attendance in ward. Awareness and knowledge of parents about problems of their premature infant were related to their age and being a mother or father. Parents had little knowledge about some NICU principles and premature infant’s needs and care.

Keywords

Awareness, Knowledge, Infant, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Prematurity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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