Mothers' Perceptions about Pain in Hospitalized Newborn Infants in Kenya

Purpose: Explore views of mothers about pain and pain treatment practices in hospitalized newborn infants.

Design and methods: A Qualitative descriptive study using photo-elicitation technique was conducted in a level I and a level II neonatal units in Kenya. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of hospitalized infants. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive content analysis approach.

Results: Mothers described the experience of witnessing their infants undergo painful procedures as emotionally and psychologically traumatic. Participants felt helpless for not being able to protect their infants from pain a situation which was made worse by health care providers who appeared less concerned about pain relief during procedures. Mothers' views demonstrated a good understanding of pain-relief strategies; they identified strategies that health care providers should routinely use to relief pain in hospitalized infants. Furthermore, participants desired to be involved in comforting their infants during clinical procedures.

Conclusion: Repeated and untreated painful procedures continue to define the hospitalisation experience of newborn infants despite the presence of mothers who desire to be involved in comforting their infants during procedures.

Practice implication: Minimizing the burden of pain and using pain-relieving interventions could reduce parental stress and optimize parental role attainment following hospitalisation.