Stress of Mothers with Premature Baby in Neonate Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Teaching Hospitals in Baghdad City

Abstract

Background: Premature baby birth is a stressful experience for families, especially the mothers, premature babies at larger risk for brain disorders, developmental delays. Objectives: to assess levels of stress and of mothers with premature baby, to find out the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and levels of stress. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study included 100 mothers with premature baby that admitted in NICU in the pediatric teaching hospitals of Baghdad city, Iraq  Results:. The majority of mothers has moderate level of total stress, the highest level related to baby looks and behaves subscale, There is negative association between level of stress in mothers with regard babies' gestational age, and positive association with length of respiratory support, and mechanical ventilation. Conclusion:  mothers of premature babies in NICU are under significant stress. Recommendation: Future researches with a psycho-social interventional program and appropriate counseling towards specific stressors and coping ways is need.