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Lived experiences of stress of Black and Hispanic mothers during hospitalization of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units

Journal of Perinatology volume 42, pages 195–201 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To characterize the lived experiences of stress associated with having a preterm infant hospitalized in the NICU among Black and Hispanic mothers.

Methods

We performed a qualitative content analysis of secondary data from two prior studies that included 39 in-depth interviews with Black and Hispanic mothers of preterm infants at 3 U.S. NICUs. We used a constant comparative method to select important concepts and to develop codes and subsequent themes.

Results

Black and Hispanic mothers described stressors in the following domains and categories: Individual (feeling overwhelmed, postpartum medical complications, previous stressful life events, competing priorities); Hospital (perceived poor quality of care, provider communication issues, logistical issues); Community (lack of social supports, lack of financial resources, work challenges).

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that stressors both inside and outside of the hospital affect the lived experiences of stress by Black and Hispanic mothers during NICU hospitalization.

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Acknowledgements

The mothers who have generously shared their time and stories with us and their families.

Funding

1. Qualitative Study of Breastfeeding Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Mothers with Very Low Birthweight Infants >2 months of age in Massachusetts, WK Kellogg Foundation # P3031871 (PI Parker). 2. Study of Attitudes and Factors Effecting PREterm infant care Practices (SAFE PREP), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Development #1R01HD095060-01 (PI Parker/Hwang).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Rachel E. Witt, Bryanne N. Colvin, Cynthia E. Rogers & Eve R. Colson

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Shannon N. Lenze & Cynthia E. Rogers

  3. Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Emma Shaw Forbes

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Margaret G. K. Parker

  5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Sunah S. Hwang

Authors
  1. Rachel E. Witt
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  2. Bryanne N. Colvin
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  3. Shannon N. Lenze
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  4. Emma Shaw Forbes
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  5. Margaret G. K. Parker
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  6. Sunah S. Hwang
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  7. Cynthia E. Rogers
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  8. Eve R. Colson
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Contributions

In addition to all authors agreeing to be accountable for all aspects of the work and approving the final version of the manuscript: Witt conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated and carried out analyses, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Colson conceptualized and designed the study, designed the data collection instruments, collected data, carried out analyses, reviewed and revised the manuscript. Colvin, Parker, Hwang, and Forbes designed the data collection instruments, collected data, carried out analyses, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Lenze carried out analyses, reviewed and revised the manuscript. Rogers carried out analyses, reviewed and revised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel E. Witt.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests. This study was performed in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Washington University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

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Witt, R.E., Colvin, B.N., Lenze, S.N. et al. Lived experiences of stress of Black and Hispanic mothers during hospitalization of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units. J Perinatol 42, 195–201 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01241-0

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