African American mothers' responses to hospitalization of an infant with serious health problems.
OBJECTIVE
To describe African American mothers' experiences related to the hospitalization of an infant with serious health problems.


METHODS
Retrospective descriptive.


METHODS
19 African American mothers with premature and term infants who were hospitalized at birth for serious health problems related to sequelae of prematurity or birth defect.


METHODS
African American mothers' recollections about the hospitalization of their seriously ill infant.


RESULTS
The mothers worried primarily about when the baby could go home. Their greatest source of stress was separation from the infant. Seeing their sick infant was also stressful and evoked shock, fear, denial, guilt, and helplessness. Mothers sought hope by seeking information and cues from the infant and by praying to God. Mothers established a relationship with their infant by visiting regularly and by learning how to care for him. Some mothers feared getting attached to an infant who might die. Mothers' highest source of satisfaction was support from the health care team.
Miles
M S
MS
Regional Genetic Consultation Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Wilson
S M
SM
Docherty
S L
SL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States