Sourabh Dutta1, Rama Mahajan, Sunil K Agrawal, Ritu Nehra, Anil Narang. 1. Departments of Pediatrics and *Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Correspondence to: Dr Sourabh Dutta, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India. sourabhdutta@yahoo.co.in.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study stress in fathers of preterm infants admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: Questionnaire-based study. Questionnaire included domains on infants health, maternal illness, staff behavior, parental role, home affairs and finances. Eligible fathers were repeatedly interviewed on day 7 (n=80), day 17 (n=59) and day 27 (n=28). Raw and standardized stress scores were calculated. RESULTS: Financial burden was the main stressor at all times. Stress related to staff behavior and altered parental role reduced with time. Birthweight and fathers age, occupation and education independently predicted stress. CONCLUSION: Fathers of preterm infants admitted in hospital are stressed, primarily due to financial burden.
OBJECTIVE: To study stress in fathers of preterm infants admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit. METHODS: Questionnaire-based study. Questionnaire included domains on infants health, maternal illness, staff behavior, parental role, home affairs and finances. Eligible fathers were repeatedly interviewed on day 7 (n=80), day 17 (n=59) and day 27 (n=28). Raw and standardized stress scores were calculated. RESULTS: Financial burden was the main stressor at all times. Stress related to staff behavior and altered parental role reduced with time. Birthweight and fathers age, occupation and education independently predicted stress. CONCLUSION: Fathers of preterm infants admitted in hospital are stressed, primarily due to financial burden.