Mothers’ experiences of neonatal intensive care: A systematic review and implications for clinical practice

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Ref.	Design/data collection/data analysis	Population studied (P)/exposure (E)	Sample selection	Outcomes
Malakouti et al[10], Iran	Descriptive qualitative study; Individual semi-structured interviews; Phenomenological method (Colaizzi’s)	P: 20 mothers (19-37 yr) with average socioeconomic status in a NICU. No data on infants provided	-	Four main themes: (1) Sense of alienation; (2) Lack of control; (3) Care; and (4) Deprivation
Lindberg and Öhrling[18], Northern Sweden	Descriptive qualitative study; Narrative interviews; Content analysis	P: 6 mothers (25-35 yr); infants GA 28-34 w.E: The infants were cared for at the NICU for at least 1 wk	Purpose sample	The content analysis resulted in five categories: (1) Being a mother without being prepared; (2) Being in a situation filled with anxiety; (3) Struggling to feel close to the infant; (4) Effects on family life; (5) Being able to handle the situation
Lee et al[19], Taiwan	Qualitative research, ground theory; In-depth interviews and participant observations; Comparison analysis	P: 26 mothers (22-36 yr); infants GA 25-34 w, BW 530-1490 gE: The infants remained in NICU for periods of 32-120 d	-	The paradigm model comprising: (1) Casual conditions; (2) Context; (3) Intervening conditions; (4) Action/interaction strategies; and (5) Consequences
Obeidat and Callister[20], Jordan	Descriptive qualitative study; Individual open-ended interviews; Phenomenological method (Colaizzi’s)	P: 20 Muslim mothers (25-42 yr); Infants born before GA 28-34 w.E: The infants were hospitalized in NICU for at least 1 wk	-	Four main themes: (1) Feeling emotional instability; (2) Living with challenges in observance; (3) Finding strength through spiritual beliefs; and (4) Trying to normalize life
Khoza and Ntswane-Lebang[21], Africa	Descriptive qualitative study; Individual in-depth interviews; Tesch’s method of analyzing qualitative data	P: 13 mothers (15-31 yr) for at least 1 wk. No data on infants provided	-	Five major categories: (1) Emotions; (2) Subjective suffering; (3) Support; (4) desperate wishes; and (5) Expressed needs
Fernández Medina et al[22], London	Interpretive qualitative research; In-depth, semi-structured interviews; Gadamer's hermeneutic phenomenology	P: 16 mothers (> 18 yr); infants mean GA 25.9 w.E: The infants were hospitalized in NICU for at least 30 d	Convenience sampling	Two main themes: (1) Negative emotional impact; and (2) Learning to be a mother

BW: Birth weight; GA: Gestational age; NICU: Neonatal intensive care units.