| dc.description.abstract | Nearly 15 million preterm babies are born yearly, worldwide. Out of which 1 million succumb to the
complications directly related to premature birth. In Kenyatta National Hospital the prevalence of
preterm birth is 18.3% while the mortality rate of preterm babies under 5 years is about 7% per year
countrywide. Many studies that highlight the experiences of caregivers of preterm babies have been
conducted in neonatal care units and few outside the hospital setting. A majority of these studies have
been done in developed countries. However, in Kenya, there is a scarcity of such studies exploring the
experiences of caregivers of preterm babies not only in neonatal care unit (NCU) but also after they
have been discharged. This study aimed to evaluate the experiences caregivers of preterm babies
face at home in the first 6 months post-discharge. This was a phenomenological study. Sixteen
preterm caregivers were purposively sampled from Litein Mission and Kapkatet County hospitals’
outpatient clinics. Ethical approval was sought from KUREC and a Research Permit from NACOSTI.
Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide at the participants’ convenience.
The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically to identify subthemes and key themes. Majority of the caregivers faced discrimination from the community; they
were anxious and worried about the welfare of their babies as they were working throughout the
day to keep them safe from harm. The caregivers face the following challenges: (a) stigmatization
and fear of unknown (b) working round the clock (c) Support given to Caregivers. To overcome
the above challenges, they received support from family members, peers, and church members. We
conclude that caregivers may have a myriad of negative experiences at home. We recommend that
healthcare givers be incorporated into community-oriented care to optimize and improve the wellbeing of the infants. | en_US |
