Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Parents perceptions of stress in a neonatal intensive care unit in Rwanda
Submitted: 22 March 2015 | Published: 03 December 2015
About the author(s)
Priscille Musabirema, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Nyarugenge Campus, RwandaPetra Brysiewicz, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Jennifer Chipps, School of Nursing, University of the Western Cape, South Africa and Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Austria
Abstract
Background: Having a newborn infant hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is an unexpected and stressful event for a family. A number of potential stressors to which family members of patients in these units may be exposed have been identified, although no studies about this issue have been conducted in Rwanda.
Aim: The aim of this study was to describe and analyse parental perception of stress that resulted from having their infant admitted to a NICU in Kigali, Rwanda.
Method: A quantitative survey was used to describe and analyse parents’ perceptions of stress when they had an infant admitted to a NICU. The Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was used to measure the level of stress that those parents experienced.
Results: The results indicated that parents experienced stress from having their infants cared for in a NICU. The most stressful events were the appearance and behaviour of the baby with a mean score of 4.02, whilst the subscale items related to sights and sounds were found to be the least significant source of stress for parents with a mean score of 2.51. In addition, the current study found that parents’ age, educational level, occupation, and infant birth weight were associated with parental stress.
Conclusion: The study established that a range of factors was responsible for parental stress when a baby was cared for in a NICU. Identification of these factors could enable health professionals from a hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, to facilitate parents’ adjusting and coping.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5095Total article views: 9860
Crossref Citations
1. Understanding the Parental Realities of Caring for Premature Newborns in Rwanda
Olive Mukanshimiyimana, Ingabire Clementine, Mukasine Anne Marie, John Peter Ndikubwimana, Louis Ngabonzima, Hakizimana Leonard, Manishimwe Godeline, Dusabirema Immaculee
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology first page: 981 year: 2025
doi: 10.38124/ijisrt/25nov732
2. The relationship between participation in caregiving, maternal stress and maternal role among mothers whose babies are hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit
Habibe Bay Özçalık, Bihter Akin
Journal of Neonatal Nursing vol: 31 issue: 6 first page: 101721 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101721
3. Psychosocial Difficulties Experienced By Parents Of Babies Treated In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Asena Taşgıt, Satı Dil
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing vol: 41 first page: 295 year: 2022
doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.08.008
4. Effect of newborn’s admission to intensive care unit on “quality of life” of mother: an Indian perspective
Pooja Rai, Usha Rani
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine vol: 32 issue: 13 first page: 2188 year: 2019
doi: 10.1080/14767058.2018.1428550
5. The Effect of Supportive Nursing Interventions on Reducing Stress Levels of Mothers of Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Gamze Yilmaz, Dilek Küçük Alemdar
Clinical Nursing Research vol: 31 issue: 5 first page: 941 year: 2022
doi: 10.1177/10547738211047359
6. Perceptions of Parent Stressors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Among the General Public and Healthcare Professionals
Verena E. Pritchard, Sarah Rizkallah
Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing vol: 36 issue: 2 first page: 186 year: 2022
doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000643
7. Family-Focused Nursing Research in WHO Afro-Region Member States: A Scoping Review
Geldine Chironda, Mary Ann Jarvis, Petra Brysiewicz
Journal of Family Nursing vol: 29 issue: 2 first page: 136 year: 2023
doi: 10.1177/10748407221132018
8. A scoping review of satisfaction of parents of babies in NICU units
Eibhlin Burns Beattie, Mugahid Ibrahim, Alexandria Kelly, Nuha Ibrahim
Journal of Neonatal Nursing vol: 31 issue: 1 first page: 68 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.jnn.2024.10.005
9. Determination of Stress and Anxiety Levels of Parents of Infants Staying in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Gamze GÜNEY, Sema BAYRAKTAR, Türkinaz AŞTİ
Artuklu International Journal of Health Sciences vol: 3 issue: 2 first page: 109 year: 2023
doi: 10.58252/artukluder.1261657
10. Perceived Stress, Breastfeeding Motivation and Breastfeeding Success among Mothers with Newborn Infants’ Hospitalization in the Neonatal Unit
Ayşe ŞENER TAPLAK, Yeter ŞENER
Jinekoloji-Obstetrik ve Neonatoloji Tıp Dergisi vol: 20 issue: 2 first page: 1707 year: 2023
doi: 10.38136/jgon.1055476
11. Prematüre Bebek Annelerinin Yenidoğan Yoğun Bakım Deneyimleri
Dilek Eryürek, Öznur Başdaş, Zübeyde Korkmaz, İlknur Yıldız, Özlem Mumcu, Meral Bayat
Hacettepe Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi Dergisi vol: 8 issue: 2 first page: 196 year: 2021
doi: 10.31125/hunhemsire.968835
12. Parenting and parental burnout in Africa
Tholene Sodi, Lodegaèna Bassantéa Kpassagou, Ogma Hatta, Alexis Ndayizigiye, Jean‐Marie Ndayipfukamiye, Josué Ngnombouowo Tenkué, Claire Bahati, Vincent Sezibera
New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development vol: 2020 issue: 174 first page: 101 year: 2020
doi: 10.1002/cad.20386
13. The Relationship Of Family Centered Care Implementation With Mother's Stress And Satisfaction With Services In The Edelweiss Room (Perinatology) At Regional Hospital Of Balung Jember District
Ira Rahmawati, Istna Abidah Mardiyah, Ami ‘Alaili Wahidah
Pediomaternal Nursing Journal vol: 8 issue: 2 first page: 77 year: 2022
doi: 10.20473/pmnj.v8i2.31145
14. The predictive roles of parental stress and intolerance of uncertainty on psychological well-being of parents with a newborn in neonatal intensive care unit: a hierarchical linear regression analysis
Masoume Rambod, Nilofar Pasyar, Zeinab Mazarei, Mitra Soltanian
BMC Pediatrics vol: 23 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-04420-4
15. The socio-demographic risk factors for parental burnout in Togo
Ogma Hatta, Bassantéa Lodegaèna Kpassagou
Educational and Developmental Psychologist vol: 40 issue: 2 first page: 262 year: 2023
doi: 10.1080/20590776.2023.2198084
16. Factors associated with maternal stress while caring for premature infants at home
Rinik Eko Kapti, Yuni Sufyanti Arief, Nurona Azizah, Sholihatul Amaliya, Lilik Supriati, Ari Damayanti Wahyuningrum
Healthcare in Low-resource Settings year: 2024
doi: 10.4081/hls.2024.13024
17. Parental stress in the neonate intensive care unit and its association with parental and infant characteristics
Mariam Mofleh Kawafha
Journal of Neonatal Nursing vol: 24 issue: 5 first page: 266 year: 2018
doi: 10.1016/j.jnn.2018.05.005
18. Maternal Stressful Experience in Giving Birth to Premature Baby in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Ward
Andi Fatmawati Syamsu, A. Dwi Bahagia Febriani, Ema Alasiry, Kadek Ayu Erika, Andi Mardiah Tahir, Isharyah Sunarno
Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences vol: 9 issue: G first page: 106 year: 2021
doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2021.6581
19. Stress, coping mechanisms and support systems for mothers of babies with neonatal sepsis in Kenyatta National Hospital
Adelight Nabwire, Angeline Chepchirchir, Lilian Omondi
African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health vol: 18 issue: 4 first page: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.12968/ajmw.2023.0037
20. Postpartum depression among Neonatal Intensive Care Unit mothers and its relation to postpartum dietary intake: A review
Noor Fairuzi Suhana Yahya, Nur Islami Mohd Fahmi Teng, Srijit Das, Norsham Juliana
Journal of Neonatal Nursing vol: 27 issue: 4 first page: 229 year: 2021
doi: 10.1016/j.jnn.2020.09.005
21. Maternal Stress and Coping Experiences in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study in the Greater Accra Metropolis
Delali Kudu, Emma Annan, Alhassan Sibdow Abukari, Florence Naab
Nursing in Critical Care vol: 30 issue: 6 year: 2025
doi: 10.1111/nicc.70230