| Background: Preterm birth and subsequent admission of the infant to neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU) can be distressing for parents and lead to their anxiety. The aim of this study was to evaluate
maternal anxiety in mothers of infants admitted to the NICU and determine the characteristics
associated with maternal anxiety.
Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with participation of 100
mothers with infant that was born premature and hospitalized in NICU (mothers were selected
through convenient sampling method) of Al-Zahra hospital, affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical
Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Data collection tools included baseline characteristics (21 items), and
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version
23.0).
Results: The results of study showed that 62% (n=100) of mothers had moderate level of state anxiety
and (54% (n=100) had moderate level of trait anxiety, mean (SD) state anxiety score was 48.62(6.00)
and mean (SD) trait anxiety was 32.45(3.63. There was statistically significant difference regarding
state anxiety mean scores and number of delivery, education level, gestational age at birth weeks and
child order (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, mother of premature infants had moderate level of state anxiety.
Having university degree, the mothers whose premature infants were at 33 weeks gestational age and
mothers who had third or more delivery number and their child order was third and over had
experienced state anxiety.
Key Words: Anxiety, Infant, Mother, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Preterm. |