The Effect of Family Participation on Mother's General Health and Length of Hospitalization of Premature Neonate

Pressures arising from premature infant care specially hospitalized infant can affect infant''s quality of life and health by causing long term destructive effects on family''s psychological and physical health.

To investigate the effect of family participation on mother''s general health and length of hospitalization of premature neonate.

In this clinical trial 60 primiparous women and their premature infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units، were randomly allocated to family participation and control groups. In the experimental group، empowering family in order to particiapte in the infant fundamental care was implemented in the «teaching» and «indepededant practice» phases. Control group received routin care. Mother''s general health was measured using Goldberg General Health questionnaire. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and Mann Whitney test using SPSS version 11/5 was done.

There was a significant difference between experimental group (21/18±8/95) and control group (35/38±12/99) in terms of Mother''s General Health (p<0/01). There was no significant difference in average length of stay between two groups.

Family participation in caring of premature infants may increase mothers'' general health and can be suggested as a practical method for increasing mother''s general health.