The perception of doctors and nurses regarding “The role of mothers in the care
of high-risk newborn” in selected hospitals, Chennai.

Uma Maheswari.N
Page no. 56-60

The term high-risk newborn commonly refers to the baby within the age of 28 days with greater
chance of morbidity and require special care in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. High-risk newborn,
who are admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, are physiologically unstable and neurologically
immature. They are subject to many illnesses and are deficient in the capacity to cope with extrauterine
environment. Newborn babies are especially vulnerable to diseases. But standard
precautions followed by the mothers will prevent diseases and deaths in neonates. The mother
should create an ideal environment for the newborn at home that should resemble an in-utero
environment which provides a conducive environment, regular nourishment, stimulation and rest.
Objectives:1.To assess the perception of doctors regarding the role of mothers in the care of highrisk
newborn 2.To assess the perception of nurses regarding the role of mothers in the care of highrisk
newborn 3.To compare the perception of doctors and nurses regarding the role of mothers in
the care of high-risk newborn4. To associate the perception of doctors and nurses regarding the role
of mothers in the care of high-risk newborn with selected demographic variables. Method:
Descriptive, exploratory survey design was adopted for the study.Samples for this study were 60 (30
Doctors and 30 Nurses) working in NICU at different hospitals. Simple random sampling technique
was used to select the sample. Data collection was done by using the structuredopen ended
questionnaire. Results: 1.All 100% of the doctors perceived that mothers have a role in prevention
of infection and follow-up care of high-risk newborn. 2. Majority (73.3%) of the nurses perceived
that mothers can be involved in meeting the nutritional needs 3. 96.7% of the nurses stated that
mothers have a role in maintaining the temperature of high-risk newborn. 4. All 100% of the nurses
perceived that mothers have a role in meeting the nutritional needs of high-risk newborn.5.
Majority (70%) of the nurses stated that mothers can promote parent-infant bonding by providing
kangaroo mother care to the high-risk newborn and 66.7% of the nurses stated that mothers have a
role in controlling stress to the high-risk newborn. Conclusion:The study reveals that majority of
the doctors and nurses perceived that mothers have role in all the aspects of care of high-risk that
will influence the high-risk newborn.
Keywords : Perception, doctors and nurses, high risk newborn.