Impact of Maternal Empowerment Program on Discharge on their Satisfaction and Weight Gain of their Infant in Educational Hospital of Emem Reza University of Medical Sciences in Kermanshah

The most important key causes of parents’ stress regarding their infant’s admission to the ICU include change in their role as the prime caregiver, feeling of quilt as to the suvival of their infant and his/her health, and the self-doubt of their ability to take care of their infant. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of empowering mothers for their infant’s discharge on their satisfaction and weight gain of their infant. Pre- and post-test clinical trials were conducted and 60 premature infants and their mothers from Kermanshah Neonatal ICU were selected using convenient sampling method. Mothers in the control group received routine care. In the intervention or experimental group, in addition to  the routine care, the desired intervention were offered, providing mothers information about washing hands, feeding, reinforcement baby sucking, taking medication, touching and massaging the baby, bathing methods, teaching infection perevention methods, warning signs, and neonates care). Data were collected using a questionnaire for maternal and neonatal demographic information, and Mothers Satisfaction Questionnaire with 13 questions which was distributed to mothers at the time of admission and before discharge. The weight of the newborn was also measured 15 days after the discharge. The data were analyzed using independent T-Test and paired T-Test. The findings showed that the mean score of satisfaction of mothers in the control and intervention group before discharge was significantly higher than the beginning of the study (P<0.001). Furthermore, the satisfaction rate of mothers in the control group was significantly lower than that of mothers in the intervention group (P<0.001). Neonatal weight during discharge was not statistically significant in the intervention and control groups (P=0.943). However, the weight gain of newborns 15 days after discharge in the intervention group was statistically significantly higher than that in the control group (p=0.001).  The results showed that the mother’s presence on the infant’s bedside was an active part in the care of the infant and the exchange of information with the mother, enhancement of mothers satisfaction and constant high-quality care at home will result in better infant growth and better weight gain.