Parent-infant bonding and attachment in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during COVID-19

Infants who are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are a medically vulnerable population who are at risk for developmental delays, behaviour difficulties and reduced parent-infant bonding and attachment. The aim and objective of this study is to explore and describe the challenges faced by nurses and parents to facilitate parent-infant bonding and attachment in a NICU during COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was used. In the study the researcher used face to face interviews and Microsoft team meeting with parents and face to face interview with neonatal nurses to explore and describe the challenges to facilitate parent-infant bonding and attachment in the NICU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study was conducted in a public hospital within the Gauteng province in the NICU of the hospital. The population was parents who had infants in the NICU and all the neonatal nurses who were working in the NICU during covid-19 pandemic. Convenient sampling was used. Data was collected using face-to-face and Microsoft team semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis.

纳入新生儿重症监护室（NICU）的婴幼儿属于医学上易受伤害的群体，他们面临着发育迟缓、行为障碍以及亲子关系减弱和依恋降低的风险。本研究旨在探讨并描述在新冠疫情期间，护士及家长在新生儿重症监护室促进亲子依恋与联系时所面临的挑战。研究采用了定性的、探索性的和描述性的设计方法。在研究中，研究人员通过面对面访谈以及与家长的Microsoft Team会议，以及与新生儿护士的面对面访谈，来探讨并描述在新冠疫情期间新生儿重症监护室促进亲子依恋与联系所面临的挑战。研究在南非豪登省的一家公立医院的新生儿重症监护室进行。研究对象为在新冠疫情期间入住NICU的婴幼儿的父母以及在该期间在该NICU工作的所有新生儿护士。研究采用了便利抽样方法。数据通过面对面和Microsoft Team半结构化访谈收集。数据分析采用了Tesch的八步数据分析法。