Maternal Mental Health Needs When the Unexpected Happens: A cross-sectional study among mothers with preterm infants in Western Kenya

Background: Mothers of preterm infants are usually unprepared for the baby’s birth earlier than expected, making them face emotional problems. Preterm births have increased lately with World Health Organization reporting an estimated prevalence of up to 5–18% and Kenya reporting an 18.3% prevalence. Mothers of preterm infants need special support to help them cope with this stressful event. The study determined the mental health needs of mothers with preterm infants in the neonatal care unit.

Materials and Methods: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study among 182 mothers with preterm babies admitted to neonatal care units of two referral hospitals in Western Kenya. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants and data was collected using a semi- structured pretested questionnaire and Critical Care Family Needs Inventory scale (CCFNI). Analysis was done using STATA 15 and a significance level set at P≤ 0.05 and 95% confidence interval.

Results: The majority of the respondents 67 (36.8%) were aged between 18-22 years and 34 (18.7%) were above 34 years. The majority, 148 (81.3%) of the mothers accepted that the needs indicated on the CCFNI scale were important. By subscales, responses from the information scale dominated the top-ranked "very important" and "important" responses. The items concerning "to have questions answered honestly" from the information scale and “to help with the infant's physical care” from the proximity scale were highly ranked “very important” (Mean, 3.50). Proximity and assurance sub-scales also dominated the top-ranked “very important” and “important” needs while support and comfort responses dominated the needs ranked slightly important. There exists at least a significant difference among the means at a p-value=0.006.

Discussion: The results are contrary to those from a study carried out in Saudia and Georgia which ranked needs from the assurance scale as most important, followed by proximity, information, comfort and finally support. However, the two studies are in agreement with the current study that needs from the support and comfort scales were least important. The difference could have been brought about due to the difference in the study population.

Conclusion: The most important mental health needs for mothers include proximity, assurance, and information. However, mothers with preterm babies in neonatal units have unmet mental health needs which should be addressed.