Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Clin Cases. Aug 26, 2021; 9(24): 7062-7072
Published online Aug 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i24.7062
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 SwedenDescriptive qualitative study; Narrative interviews; Content analysisP: 6 mothers (25-35 yr); infants GA 28-34 w.E: The infants were cared for at the NICU for at least 1 wkPurpose sampleThe 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 analysisP: 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 dataP: 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], LondonInterpretive qualitative research; In-depth, semi-structured interviews; Gadamer's hermeneutic phenomenologyP: 16 mothers (> 18 yr); infants mean GA 25.9 w.E: The infants were hospitalized in NICU for at least 30 dConvenience samplingTwo main themes: (1) Negative emotional impact; and (2) Learning to be a mother
Table 2 Thematic analysis
Ref.
The negative emotional impact on mother
Support
Barriers to parenting
Establishing loving relationships with their baby
Shock and unpreparedness
Fear and anxiety
Guilt
Support from religious or spiritual beliefs
Support from family members
Support from health professionals
Lindberg and Öhrling[18], Northern Sweden
Khoza and Ntswane-Lebang[21], Africa
Lee et al[19], Taiwan
Malakouti et al[10], Iran
Obeidat and Callister[20], Jordan
Fernández Medina et al[22], London