Mothers’ perceptions of partners’ involvement in Kangaroo Care in Neonatology Unit in Rwanda

Abstract

Introduction: An evidence-based strategy for lowering mortality and morbidity in preterm and low-birth-weight newborns is known as kangaroo mother care (KMC). Kangaroo care is usually initiated in the neonatology unit or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) when a stable newborn is placed in the prone position on the mother‟s chest for skin-to-skin contact. Recent studies have also demonstrated the advantages of giving the mother's partner the chance to participate in kangaroo care (KC) of the newborn; however, little is known about how Rwandan mothers see their partners' participation. Aim: This study explored the mothers‟ perceptions on value and barriers of their partners‟ involvement in Kangaroo Care of the newborn.

Methods: The moms' perspectives on having a newborn in the neonatology unit and KMC were investigated using a descriptive qualitative design. The setting was the neonatology unit at Kibungo Referral Hospital in Rwanda with a catchment area of 15 health centers and 310,955 inhabitants. The mothers' perception of the value and obstacles related to their partners' participation in KC were evaluated using an exploratory qualitative approach method. All parents (mothers) who had a preterm/LBW newborn hospitalized during the data collecting period made up the study population. Purposive sampling was used to access mothers who had newborns in the neonatology unit during the study period and choose study participants from among them. The sample was continued to increase in size until no new information about KC is provided by the participants, a situation called data saturation. To collect information from participants and allow them to share their thoughts and views about the KC while achieving the goals of the study, an interview guide was used. The data analysis was performed using NVivo 12 qualitative content analysis software, which included reading the data, entering and coding the data in NVivo, then formulating themes and subthemes. The themes were divided into value and barriers to KC in the neonatology unit. Results: Thirteen participants (mothers) were interviewed. The mothers expressed their perceptions of the value of their partners‟ contribution to KC and myriad barriers that prevent KC involvement. Although their partners were less likely to be personally involved in KC and the mothers were considered as being crucial to delivering KMC, the participants highlighted many barriers that impede their partners from participating in KC practice: The barriers include Lack of time and other obligations; Cultural beliefs, religion and Stigma attached to fathers‟ providing newborn care including KC; Lack of opportunity to KC practice due to facility environment, Fathers‟ low awareness of KC, and other Family members‟ contribution in KC.

Discussion: The partners (fathers) were challenged by a range of barriers to practice KC with their newborns. The mothers voiced that partners were less likely to be directly involved in KC but they play an indirectly important role in KMC, especially when their preterm and low-birth weight newborns are hospitalized.