title: Stress in parents of very low birth weight preterm infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. A multicenter study.
abstract: The birth of a premature baby is a stressful event for parents. The objective of this study was to determine early stress in parents of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) hospitalized in 12 neonatal intensive care units from a South American Neonatal Network, to identify associated factors, and to compare the level of parental stress in public versus private healthcare facilities.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study in mothers/fathers of VLBWIs (500 to 1500 g). Early parental stress was measured using the Parental Stressor Scale, with a score from 1 (low stress) to 5 (high stress). The sociodemographic characteristics of parents and newborn infants were collected and associated with levels of parental stress.
  
  
  
  The study included 273 fathers/mothers of a total of 218 VLBW preterm infants. The survey was administered at 5.9 ± 2.0 days of life. The average total parental stress was 3.1 ± 0.8, and the highest score was obtained for the parental role subscale (3.6). A lower education level, unemployment, not having held the newborn infant, and respiratory support requirement were associated with higher parental stress levels. Stress was higher among mothers than fathers, and at public facilities versus private ones.
  
  
  
  Among parents of VLBWIs, a moderate early parental stress was observed. Parental role alteration was the most relevant factor. Parental stress was higher among mothers and at public healthcare facilities. A greater sensitization, further research and interventions in this area are required.
authors.affiliation: División de Pediatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wormald
authors.affiliation: División de Pediatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.affiliation: Hospital Lagomaggiore, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río, Chile.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cánepa
authors.affiliation: Maternidad Sardá, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Aurelia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Guillermo Fricke, Chile.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: División de Pediatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Bernardita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Hospital Austral, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.affiliation: Hospital J. A. Fernández, Argentina.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Menéndez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Perú
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Hospital Guillermo Grant, Chile.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Treuer
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas CMI, Paraguay.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borja
authors.affiliation: División de Pediatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult