Exploration of the mental health of parents of premature hospitalized in the neonatal unit during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of our population, including mothers and fathers of babies who are hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where the rehabilitation teams, including occupational therapists play a pivotal role. High levels of stress, anxiety, distress, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms may lead to complications in family and infant performance in the future. Objective: To describe mental health in parents of preterm newborns hospitalized in the context of the pandemic in the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Methodology: Qualitative study consisting of four semi-structured interviews with parents who experienced the birth during the pandemic and were hospitalized in the NICU. The research focused on the occupational, emotional and psychological impacts of the pandemic on family dynamics. Results: The results indicate that families are aware of their children's developmental conditions, the hospitalization process and the pandemic situation, however, their daily activities have been significantly affected, as well as their activities of daily living, and they report feelings of grief, fear and distress in this process. This would generate great distress and anxiety in the family dynamics. Conclusion: This study confirms the parents' experience and at the same time contributes to the understanding of the process that families go through in relation to the family dynamics around a premature child and how it is negatively affected by this pandemic.