INTRODUCTION

Stress is the psychological and physical strain or tension generated by physical, emotional, social, economic or occupational circumstances or events that are difficult to manage or endure. Our study focuses on the psychological aspect of stress. It’s important to research on stress because of its effects on individuals. The stress experienced in the NICU can cause fatigue, sleeping disorders and depression after discharge, compromising bond between mother and child.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the level of stress and the most stressful situation for mothers of newborns admitted into the NICU

METHOD

Descriptive study with a quantitative approach developed in the NICU of the Regional Pediatric Hospital of Ternopil State.

Mothers of the hospitalized newborns participated in the study. Data were collected within December 2018 and March 2019. We divided our study into two parts; Part A- Socio-demographic profile of the mother which was composed of variables; age, marital status, number of children, occupation, educational level. PSS:NICU has 26 items, shared in three subscale(measures stress relating to light and sounds, appearance and behavior of the baby and alteration of role of mother). Scores from 1-5 were used indicating the level of stress.

RESULTS

13 mothers of newborns admitted in NICU participated in the study. With an average age of 25.6years. It was shown that the subscale with the least level of stress was ‘Sounds and Light’ with an average of 2.8575. Average answers of this subscale scale varied from 1.72-3. The subscale ‘appearance and behavior of child’(average=3.4461) had averages varying from 2.2-4. The subscale with the greatest level of stressful was ‘Maternal Role Alteration’(average=3.7078) averages varied from 3.41-4.07. With the most stressful situation being ‘feeling helpless and unable to protect my baby from pain and painful procedures’(4.076) and ‘being separated from baby’(4.0).

The average of the research was 3.30 which shows moderate stress level.

CONCLUSSION

Mothers of the newborns showed highest level of stress at ‘Alterations of Maternal Role’(3.707). The results of the research show that situations in the NICU causes stress in mothers, this might be due to the fact that the roles performed by mothers that creates the bond between mother and child isn’t possible or that mothers feel incapable of taking care of their own(which is a natural maternal instinct from nature).

In this regard, NICU professionals can provide care that involves mothers in the caring for the newborn. Mothers can be taught on procedures that are performed by nurses to help create contact between mother and child, this we believe will reduce the level of stress.