[Fathers' experiences during the hospitalization of the premature newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit].

This study aimed to understand the fathers' experiences during the hospitalization of premature newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a public hospital in Feira de Santana, Bahia. This is a qualitative descriptive exploratory study that was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Technology and Sciences, and carried out in a public hospital in Bahia, with nine fathers who accompanied their children hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The data were analyzed through content analysis. The results showed that premature births cause feelings of surprise, anxiety and fear in the fathers. It is needed rethink how does the inclusion of premature infants' fathers in the hospitalization process and about the changes in established routines for the visit and paternal participation in the context of premature care.