Mothering in the NICU: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators of Maternal Engagement With Hospitalized Preterm Infants
The study seeks to identify and understand the relationships among socioeconomic factors, psychological factors and maternal engagement patterns among mothers of hospitalized preterm infants in Colorado neonatal intensive care units.
This study aims to increase understanding about maternal engagement with preterm infants in the NICU and how engagement relates to maternal sociodemographic characteristics, maternal mental health and infant health outcomes. Based on a review of the literature, the researchers are interested in exploring if maternal sociodemographic, economic and mental health characteristics are associated with maternal engagement and infant health outcomes and if maternal engagement relates to short-and-long term infant health outcomes. Through partnerships with four Colorado NICUs, findings from this study have the potential shape patient care and policy and ultimately improve outcomes for preterm infants and their mothers.