Authors : Olive Mukanshimiyimana; Ingabire Clementine; Mukasine Anne Marie; John Peter Ndikubwimana; Louis Ngabonzima; Hakizimana Leonard; Manishimwe Godeline; Dusabirema Immaculee

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5frbeuch

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/5n88hhtt

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov732

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : Parents of premature newborns admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) commonly experience distress, emotional burden, and disruptions in parent-infant bonding. This study explored the lived experiences of parents whose premature newborns were admitted to the Neonatal Unit at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (UTHB). A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to gain deep insight into parents’ perceptions, emotions, and challenges during hospitalization. Ten parents were purposively selected and interviewed through semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Giorgi’s phenomenological method. Findings revealed both negative and positive experiences. Negative experiences included stress related to newborn appearance, fear of death, financial constraints, environmental challenges linked to noise, light, and equipment, and loss of parental role. Positive experiences emerged primarily from support provided by healthcare workers, partners, and family members. Understanding these experiences is essential for strengthening family-centered care, improving parental involvement, and enhancing neonatal outcomes. The study recommends structured psychosocial support, improved communication, and enhanced parental engagement in care routines.

Keywords : Premature Newborn, Neonatal Unit, Parental Experience, Stress, Parental Support, Rwanda.

References :

1. Adama, E. A., Bayes, S. and Sundin, D. (2016) ‘Parents’ experiences of caring for preterm infants after discharge from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A meta-synthesis of the literature’, Journal of Neonatal Nursing. Elsevier Ltd, 22(1), pp. 27–51. doi: 10.1016/j.jnn.2015.07.006.
2. Alves, E., Amorim, M., Fraga, S., Barros, H. and Silva, S. (2014) ‘Parenting roles and knowledge in neonatal intensive care units: protocol of a mixed methods study.’, BMJ open, 4(7), p. e005941. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005941.
3. Anderson, C. (2010) ‘Presenting and Evaluating Qualitative Research: Strengths and Limitations of Qualitative Research’, Americam Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 74(8), pp. 1–7. doi: 74(8):1-7.
4. Arnold, L., Sawyer, A., Rabe, H., Abbott, J. and Gyte, G. (2013) ‘Parents ’ fi rst moments with their very preterm babies : a qualitative study’, pp. 1–8. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002487.
5. Babore, A. (2015) ‘The experience of premature birth for fathers : the application of the Clinical Interview for Parents of High-Risk Infants ( CLIP ) to an Italian sample’, 6(September), pp. 1–9. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01444.
6. Badnjevic, A., Gurbeta, L., Jimenez, E. R. and Iadanza, E. (2017) ‘Testing of mechanical ventilators and infant incubators in healthcare institutions’, Technology and Health Care, 25(2), pp. 237–250. doi: 10.3233/THC-161269.
7. Beck, S., Wojdyla, D., Say, L., Betran, A. P., Merialdi, M., Requejo, J. H., Rubens, C., Menon, R. and Van Look, P. F. A. (2010) ‘The worldwide incidence of preterm birth: A systematic review of maternal mortality and morbidity’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88(1), pp. 31–38. doi: 10.2471/BLT.08.062554.
8. Blencowe, H., Cousens, S., Chou, D., Oestergaard, M., Say, L., Moller, A.-B., Kinney, M. and Lawn, J. (2013) ‘Born too soon: the global epidemiology of 15 million preterm births.’, Reproductive health, 10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), p. S2. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-10-S1-S2.
9. Blencowe, H., Cousens, S., Oestergaard, M. Z., Chou, D., Moller, A.-B., Narwal, R., Adler, A., Garcia, C. V., Rohde, S. S., Say, L. and Lawn, J. E. (2012) ‘15 Million babies born too soon’, Geneva: World Health Organization, pp. 1–13. Available at: http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2012/preterm_birth_report/en/index.html\nhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15735596\nhttp://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&btnG=Search&q=intitle:Born+too+soon:+The+Global+Action+Report+on+Preterm+Birth#0\nhttp://scho.
10. Burns & Grove (2005) ‘Practice of Nursing Research’, 5, pp. 535–636.
11. Camarinha-matos, L. M. and Terminology, B. (2012) ‘SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Unit 2 : SCIENTIFIC METHOD’, pp. 2009–2012.
12. Candelori, C., Trumello, C., Babore, A., Keren, M. and Romanelli, R. (2015) ‘The experience of premature birth for fathers: the application of the Clinical Interview for Parents of High-Risk Infants (CLIP) to an Italian sample’, Frontiers in Psychology, 6(September), pp. 1–9. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01444.
13. Carter, J. D., Mulder, R. T., Bartram,  a F. and Darlow, B. a (2005) ‘Infants in a neonatal intensive care unit: parental response.’, Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition, 90, pp. F109–F113. doi: 10.1136/adc.2003.031641.
14. Castoldi, F. (2015) ‘Impact of the preterm birth on Mothers and Fathers : an observational single center study Impact of the preterm birth on Mothers and Fathers : an observational single center study’, (April), pp. 1–2.
15. Creswell, J. W. (2012) Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research.
16. Devlin, J. W., Fong, J. J., Howard, E. P., Skrobik, Y., Mccoy, N. and Marshall, J. (2008) ‘I Ntensive C Are U Nit ’:, Critical Care Medicine, 15(2), pp. 555–565. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2011243.
17. Dudek-shriber, L. (2004) ‘Parental Stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Influence of Parent and Infant Characteristics.pdf’, The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 58(5), pp. 509–520.
18. Elo, S., Kääriäinen, M., Kanste, O. and Pölkki, T. (2014) ‘Qualitative Content Analysis : A Focus on Trustworthiness’. doi: 10.1177/2158244014522633.
19. Fegran, L. (2008) ‘FAMILY AND CARER EXPERIENCE A comparison of mothers ’ and fathers ’ experiences of the attachment process in a neonatal intensive care unit’, pp. 810–816. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02125.x.
20. Feldman, R., Weller, A., Leckman, J. F., Kuint, J. and Eidelman,  a I. (1999) ‘The nature of the mother’s tie to her infant: Maternal bonding under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss.’, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 40(6), pp. 929–939. doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00510.
21. Gangi, S., Dente, D., Bacchio, E., Giampietro, S., Terrin, G. and M, D. C. (2013) ‘Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Parents of Premature Birth Neonates’, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Elsevier B.V., 82, pp. 882–885. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.365.
22. Gill, P., Stewart, K., Treasure, E. and Chadwick, B. (2008) ‘Methods of data collection in qualitative research: interviews and focus groups.’, British dental journal, 204(6), pp. 291–295. doi: 10.1038/bdj.2008.192.
23. Gooding, J. S., Cooper, L. G., Blaine, A. I., Franck, L. S., Howse, J. L. and Berns, S. D. (2011) ‘Family Support and Family-Centered Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit : Origins , Advances , Impact’, YSPER. Elsevier Inc., 35(1), pp. 20–28. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2010.10.004.
24. Grant, J. (2008) ‘Getting connected : How nurses can support mother / infant attachment in the neonatal intensive care unit’, Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27(3), pp. 75–82.
25. Hebert, C. (2014) ‘Premature Birth and the Impact on Family Systems’. Available at: https://beardocs.baylor.edu:8443/xmlui/handle/2104/8992.
26. Herbst, A. and Maree, C. (2006) ‘Empowerment of parents in the neonatal intensive care unit by neonatal nurses.’, Health SA Gesondheid, 11(3), p. 3–13 11p. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v11i3.232.
27. Holditch-davis, D., Miles, M. S., Burchinal, M. R. and Goldman, D. (2011) ‘Maternal Role Attainment With Medically Fragile Infants : Part 2 . Relationship to the Quality of Parenting’, (December 2010), pp. 35–48. doi: 10.1002/nur.20418.
28. Howard, C. L. and Stratton, J. A. (2010) ‘Maternal Role Attainment - Becoming a Mothe’, pp. 1–8.
29. Hunt, K. (2011) ‘The NICU: Environmental effects of the neonatal intensive care unit on infants and caregivers’. Available at: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1068&context=gs_rp.
30. Husmillo, M. (2013) ‘Maternal Role Attainment Theory’, International Journal of Childbirth Education, 28(2), pp. 46–48. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1993.tb00791.x.
31. Ionio, C., Colombo, C., Brazzoduro, V., Mascheroni, E., Confalonieri, E., Castoldi, F. and Lista, G. (2016) ‘Mothers and fathers in nicu: The impact of preterm birth on parental distress’, Europe’s Journal of Psychology. PsychOpen, a publishing service by Leibniz Institute for Psychology Information (ZPID), Trier, Germany (www.zpid.de)., 12(4), pp. 604–621. doi: 10.5964/ejop.v12i4.1093.
32. Knutson, A. J. (2012) ‘Acceptable noise levels for neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit’.
33. Lau, R. and Morse, C. A. (2003) ‘Stress experiences of parents with premature infants in a special care nursery’, Stress and Health, 19(2), pp. 69–78. doi: 10.1002/smi.964.
34. Lawn, J., Mongi, P. and Cousens, S. (2006) ‘Africa’s newborns – counting them and making them count’, Opportunities for Africa’s Newborns, p. 12.
35. Leite, R., Ferreira, D. S., Christoffel, M. M., Estela, M. and Machado, D. (2015) ‘Being a father of a premature newborn at neonatal intensive care unit: from parenthood to fatherhood’, 19(3), pp. 409–416. doi: 10.5935/1414-8145.20150054.
36. Levy, J. (2015) ‘HHS Public Access’, 42(6), pp. 641–654. doi: 10.1111/1552-6909.12255.Maternal.
37. Lindberg, B. (2007) ‘Fathers´ experiences of having an infant born prematurely’, Technology, pp. 1–86. Available at: http://epubl.luth.se/1402-1757/2007/60/LTU-LIC-0760-SE.pdf.
38. Lindberg, B. and Öhrling, K. (2008) ‘Experiences of having a prematurely born infant from the perspective of mothers in northern Sweden’, 67(5), pp. 461–471.
39. Al Maghaireh, D. F., Abdullah, K. L., Chan, C. M., Piaw, C. Y. and Al Kawafha, M. M. (2016) ‘Systematic review of qualitative studies exploring parental experiences in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’, Journal of Clinical Nursing, pp. 1–12. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13259.
40. Malakouti, J., Jabraeeli, M., Valizadeh, S. and Babapour, J. (2013) ‘Mothers ’ experience of having a preterm infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit , a Phenomenological Study’, 5(4), pp. 172–181.
41. Mason, M. (2010) ‘FORUM : QUALITATIVE SOCIAL RESEARCH SOZIALFORSCHUNG Sample Size and Saturation in PhD Studies Using Qualitative Interviews’.
42. McCann, D., Kenner, C. and Boykova, M. (2010) ‘NICU Nursing for the 21st Century’, NeoReviews, 11(1), pp. e18–e23. doi: 10.1542/neo.11-1-e18.
43. Mercer, R. T. (2004) ‘Becoming a mother versus maternal role attainment’, pp. 226–232.
44. Merighi, M. A. B., Jesus, M. C. P. de, Santin, K. R. and Oliveira, D. M. de (2011) ‘Caring for newborns in the presence of their parents: the experience of nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit’, Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 19(6), pp. 1398–1404. doi: 10.1590/S0104-11692011000600017.
45. Moh (2014) ‘Health Sector Annual Report’, (July 2013), p. 64.
46. Musabirema, P., Brysiewicz, P., Chipps, J., Africa, S., Africa, S. and Brysiewicz, P. (2013) ‘Parents perceptions of stress in a neonatal intensive care unit in Rwanda’, (Harvey 2010), pp. 1–8. doi: 10.4102/curationis.v38i2.1499.
47. Obeidat, H. M. and Bond, E. A. (2009) ‘The Parental Experience of Having an Infant in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit’, pp. 23–29. doi: 10.1624/105812409X461199.
48. Obeidat, H. M., Bond, E. A. and Callister, L. C. (2009) ‘The parental experience of having an infant in the newborn intensive care unit.’, The Journal of perinatal education, 18(3), pp. 23–9. doi: 10.1624/105812409X461199.
49. Patton, M. Q. and Cochran, M. (2002) ‘A Guide to Using Qualitative Research Methodology’.
50. Polit&Beck,  et al (2012) ‘Nursing Research Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice’, 13(6), p. e29. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2013.04.001.
51. Psych, K. S. Bp. M. C. (2009) ‘No Title STRESS AND COPING IN FATHERS FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF A PRETERM INFANT’, pp. 1–23.
52. Riessman, C. K. and Gerstel, N. (1985) ‘Marital dissolution and health: Do males or females have greater risk?’, Social Science and Medicine, 20(6), pp. 627–635. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(85)90401-0.
53. Russell, G., Sawyer, A., Rabe, H., Abbott, J., Gyte, G., Duley, L. and Ayers, S. (2014) ‘Parents ’ views on care of their very premature babies in neonatal intensive care units : a qualitative study’, pp. 1–10.
54. Sandelowski, M. (2000) ‘Focus on Research Methods Whatever Happened to Qualitative Description ?’, pp. 334–340.
55. Schappin, R., Wijnroks, L., Uniken Venema, M. M. A. T. and Jongmans, M. J. (2013) ‘Rethinking Stress in Parents of Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis’, PLoS ONE, 8(2). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054992.
56. Steedman, W. K. (2007) ‘Stress Experienced by Parents from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Master of, p. 104.
57. Steyn, E. (2017) ‘Lived experiences of parents of premature babies in the intensive care unit in a private hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa’.
58. Takrouri, M. (2003) ‘Intensive Care Unit’, pp. 1–6.
59. Thon, K. N. (2013) ‘Supporting Parents of Premature Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit : A Manual for Practitioners’, p. 9.
60. Trajkovski, S., Schmied, V., Vickers, M. and Jackson, D. (2012) ‘Neonatal nurses’ perspectives of family-centred care: A qualitative study’, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21(17–18), pp. 2477–2487. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04138.x.
61. WANDA Barfield, M. (2015) ‘Public Health Strategies to Prevent Preterm Birth | Public Health Grand Rounds | CDC’. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/cdcgrandrounds/archives/2015/november2015.htm.
62. Whittington, C. (2011) ‘Parental perceptions of touch between parents and infants in the neonatal intensive unit.’, Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, p. 1095. Available at: http://search.proquest.com/docview/906333794?accountid=14836\nhttp://sfx39uvr.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/sfx_univr?sid=ProQ:&issn=&volume=&issue=&title=Parental+perceptions+of+touch+between+parents+and+infants+in+the+neonatal+intensive+unit.&spage=&date=20.
63. WHO (2015) ‘WHO Recommendations on Interventions to Improve Preterm Birth Outcomes’, WHO, p. 98. Available at: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/maternal_perinatal_health/preterm-birth guideline/en/\nhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26447264.
64. Wigert, H. (2010) ‘Parental presence when their child is in neonatal intensive care’, (26). doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2009.00697.x.
65. Wurtman, R. J. (2009) ‘The effects of light on the human body.’, Scientific American, 233(1), pp. 69–77. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican0775-68.