Parental involvement in neonatal pain management at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi

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2017-09-01
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Parental involvement in neonatal pain management is an area that is receiving attention under neonatal pain care worldwide because parents can provide non-pharmacological pain management interventions (NPPMI) like therapeutic touch, kangaroo mother care, breast milk, containment or swaddling when their babies undergo painful procedures (Kyololo and Marete, 2014; Golianu et al., 2007). In Malawi, it was observed that involving parents in neonatal pain management is not practiced in most neonatal units as parents are routinely not involved during or after invasive procedures like lumbar puncture, therapeutic tapping, wound dressings, after a baby has undergone surgery and during collection of blood specimens. The involvement of parents in pain care can be of benefit in limited resource countries like Malawi (Molyneux, 2012) to promote pain management. Therefore, this study aimed at describing how parents are involved in neonatal pain management at Gogo Chatinkha neonatal Unit, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. A descriptive study that used qualitative data collection and analysis method was employed. Participants were parents/guardians of babies who had undergone invasive procedures in the neonatal unit. Data was collected using a voice recorder then it was transcribed word by word, then coding was done to categorise it. Based on the meaning of the coded data, themes and sub themes were developed. Data were analysed manually using thematic content analysis. Findings showed that parental involvement in neonatal pain care is poor. However, parents expressed willingness to take part in invasive procedures in order to provide NPPMI’s. This would in turn improve parental involvement in neonatal pain care and promote the use of NPPMI in Malawian neonatal units hence improve neonatal health. Therefore it was concluded parents should be involved in neonatal pain care with an emphasis on use of NPPM to improve neonatal health.
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